Microwave fire protection systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A communication system includes a first radio frequency identification (RFID) device coupled to a sensor that monitors a fire condition and a second RFID device. The first RFID device includes at least one first antenna that receives a fire detection signal from the sensor, and a processing circuit that causes the at least one first antenna to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal corresponding to the fire detection signal through an internal volume of a pipe coupled to a fluid source. The second RFID device includes at least one second antenna that receives the RF signal through the internal volume of the pipe. The second RFID device controls operation of a fluid distribution device responsive to receiving the indication of the fire detection signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/629,274, filed Feb. 12, 2018, the content of which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Water sprinklers can be used in wet pipe fire protection systems and drypipe fire protection systems. Wet pipe sprinkler systems can be filledwith water under pressure at most times. When the temperature at asprinkler exceeds a trigger point, the sprinkler opens and the waterflows through the pipes and out the sprinklers coupled to the pipes. Drypipe systems can be filled with air or a gas (e.g., nitrogen) underpressure, so that when a sprinkler opens a drop in gas pressure isdetected and water is forced into the sprinkler system.

SUMMARY

Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to using microwave orother radio frequency (RF) signals for communication in fire protectionsystems, such as a dry pipe sprinkler system. The pipes of the fireprotection system can act as a waveguide through which electroniccomponents of the sprinkler system can communicate. For example, a localprocessing unit (LPU) can transmit and receive microwaves through a pipesystem to sensors (or detectors), sprinklers (or more generallydistribution devices), and other LPUs. Similarly, sprinklers (alsoreferred to herein as distribution devices) and sensors (also referredto herein as detectors) may also transmit and receive microwaves to oneanother, using the pipes of a fire protection system as a waveguide forthe microwave signals. Because a waveguide helps a signal maintain itssignal strength, the embodiments disclosed herein can provide for acommunications network that can utilize low power devices, such as radiofrequency identification (RFID) devices. In some embodiments, sensorsand other devices can utilize the microwave signals passing through thepipes to power the sensors or devices. Furthermore, the waves passingthrough the pipes can be processed to determine whether corrosion hasoccurred in the pipes.

At least one aspect relates to a communication system for a fireprotection system. The communication system includes a first radiofrequency identification (RFID) device coupled to a sensor that monitorsa fire condition and a second RFID device. The first RFID deviceincludes at least one first antenna that receives a fire detectionsignal from the sensor, and a processing circuit that causes the atleast one first antenna to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signalcorresponding to the fire detection signal through an internal volume ofa pipe coupled to a fluid source. The second RFID device includes atleast one second antenna that receives the RF signal through theinternal volume of the pipe. The second RFID device controls operationof a fluid distribution device responsive to receiving the indication ofthe fire detection signal.

At least one aspect relates to a fire protection system. The fireprotection system includes a pipe system including a plurality of pipescoupled to a water source, a plurality of sensors each monitoring arespective sensor area for the presence of a fire, a plurality of fluiddistribution devices in fluid communication with the pipe system, afirst RFID device, and a second RFID device. The plurality of fluiddistribution devices are arranged to dispense fluid from the watersource. Each of the plurality of fluid distribution devices has a framebody defining an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with theinlet, and has an actuator movable between a first position restrictingfluid flow from the inlet through the outlet and a second positionallowing fluid to flow from a pipe in the plurality of pipes to theinlet and through the outlet. The first RFID device is coupled to atleast one of the plurality of sensors. The first RFID device includes atleast one first antenna that receives a fire detection signal from theat least one of the plurality of sensors and a processing circuit thatcauses the at least one first antenna to transmit a radio frequency (RF)signal corresponding to the fire detection signal through an internalvolume of at least one pipe of the plurality of pipes. The second RFIDdevice includes at least one second antenna that receives the RF signalthrough the internal volume of the at least one pipe. The second RFIDdevice controls operation of a fluid distribution device responsive toreceiving the indication of the fire detection signal.

At least one aspect relates to a method of operating a fire protectionsystem. The method includes receiving, by at least one first antenna ofa first radio frequency identification (RFID) device, a fire detectionsignal from a sensor that monitors a fire condition, transmitting, bythe at least one first antenna based on the fire detection signal, aradio frequency (RF) signal into an internal volume of a pipe coupled toa fluid source, receiving, by at least one second antenna of a secondRFID device, the RF signal through the internal volume of the pipe, andcontrolling operation of a fluid distribution device, by the second RFIDdevice, responsive to receiving the RF signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will become more fully understood from the followingdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingfigures, in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a pipe of a fire protection system actingas a waveguide.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a fire protection system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view detailing operation of a fire protectionsystem.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a controller arrangement for use in a fireprotection system.

FIG. 4 is a process diagram of a method of transmitting and receiving RFsignals at an LPU.

FIG. 5 is a process diagram of a method of transmitting and receiving RFsignals at a distribution device.

FIG. 6 is a process diagram of a method of transmitting and receiving RFsignals at a detector device in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent technology.

FIG. 7A is a process diagram of a method of determining corrosion inequipment of a fire protection system.

FIG. 7B is an operational view of two different paths a signal may takewithin a pipe system.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic views of fluid distribution devices foruse in a fire protection system.

FIG. 9 is a process diagram depicting a method of actuating adistribution device.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluid distributiondevice in an unactuated state.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of a sprinkler system with a sprinkler inan unactuated state.

FIG. 11B is a perspective view of a sprinkler system in an actuatedstate.

FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of a fluid distribution device.

FIG. 12B is a perspective and schematic view of an installation of afluid distribution device.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a corrosion monitoring device.

FIG. 14 depicts a schematic view of an operating environment in whichdetector and distribution devices can be utilized.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a set of components within an LPUassociated with a gateway unit capable of receiving transmissions fromone or more LPUs.

FIG. 16 depicts components within a monitoring platform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before turning to the figures, which illustrate certain exemplaryembodiments in detail, it should be understood that the presentdisclosure is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in thedescription or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understoodthat the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description onlyand should not be regarded as limiting.

The present disclosure relates generally to fire protection systems.More specifically, the present disclosure relates to apparatuses,systems, methods, and computer readable media for communications betweencomponents of fire protection systems, including wet pipe and dry pipesystems, as well as remote monitoring of corrosion of equipment such as,e.g., pipes. Dry pipe systems may be maintained in a vacuum or nearvacuum state. Dry pipe systems can be used, for example, in areas wherethe temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and water might freezeor damage the pipes. Dry pipe sprinklers may be used in locations wherehigh value items are stored, where water damage and accidentaltriggering can cause huge losses or damage, or in other scenarios.

Sprinklers in these fire protection systems include mechanical devicesthat trigger based upon, for example, the effect of temperature on theirtrigger mechanism. The sprinklers can operate automatically when theirheat-activated element is heated to its thermal rating or above,allowing water to discharge over a specified area upon delivery of thefirefighting fluid. The trigger temperature of these devices can be highenough that significant fires have already started.

Sprinkler or fire protection systems may be inspected annually. For drypipe systems, water is triggered into the pipes and the time it takes toreach the farthest or most hydraulically demanding sprinkler head (witha release valve) from the water source is measured to ensure that thetime is within applicable regulations. Although sprinkler systems aresupposed to have a slope to allow water from these tests to drain, therecan be enough water that lingers in a pipe to cause some level ofcorrosion over time in the pipes.

It may not be possible to completely eliminate the corrosion process,and in time, the corrosion of the components in a system can lead todamage and/or performance issues. For example, corrosion of pipes in afire sprinkler system can result in partial blockage of pipes and/orleaks. Corrosion can flourish even in dry pipes such as in dry-type firesprinkler systems because these pipes are never 100% dry. Trapped waterand/or humid air from air compressors can create the perfect conditionsfor corrosion to occur. Because corrosion in the fire sprinkler systemcan affect overall system performance, systems and methods of thepresent solution can monitor corrosion.

Referring generally to the figures, systems and methods of the presentsolution can use microwave or other RF signals for communication in fireprotection systems, such as a dry pipe sprinkler system. The pipes ofthe fire protection system can act as a waveguide through whichelectronic components of the sprinkler system can communicate. Forexample, an LPU can transmit and receive microwaves through a pipesystem to sensors (e.g., detectors), sprinklers (e.g., distributiondevices), and other LPUs. Sprinklers and sensors may transmit andreceive microwaves to one another, using the pipes of a fire protectionsystem as a waveguide for the microwave signals. Because a waveguidehelps a signal maintain its signal strength, the present solution canenable a communications network that can utilize low power devices, suchas RFID devices. Sensors and other devices can utilize the microwavesignals passing through the pipes to power the sensors or devices.

As more smart devices are proliferated (e.g., a sprinkler withadditional sensors to ensure that a fire is occurring or determine afire is occurring sooner and an ability to communicate with a basestation or other sprinklers/sensors), issues arise regarding thosedevices need for power, the ability to communicate information back to acontrol system, and to be commanded by a control system. In somesystems, standard wiring to each sprinkler could be used to create asmart sprinkler system but this may require installation of extensivewiring during installation or retrofitting. Various wirelesscommunications systems could be used but power or a battery would needto be wired to each sprinkler and sufficient wireless coverage wouldhave to be installed. The present solution can remove or reduce the needto supply external power to electronic sensors, actuators, transmitters,and other devices. The present solution can provide for a communicationssystem that can be advantageously utilized without having to use otherexternal communication networks, such as Wi-Fi networks. This can bebeneficial because RFID devices and/or sensors may not need as muchpower to transmit and receive signals as compared to devices/sensorsthat utilize other communication protocols like Wi-Fi. Somedevices/sensors as disclosed herein may not use any external power, andmay be instead powered by the RF signals sent within the pipes of thesprinkler system. In addition, if any services like Wi-Fi areinterrupted (e.g., due to the presence of a fire), the RF or microwavecommunication system using the sprinkler pipes as waveguides may stillbe operational. The present solution can utilize existing infrastructureto provide power and two way communications to smart sprinklers,detectors, and other devices without having to run wires to each device,provide sufficient wireless coverage, or provide battery maintenance toeach device.

These waves, signals, and/or communications that travel through thepipes serving as a waveguide can be processed to determine if corrosionhas occurred in the pipes. It can be difficult to know about or measurethe corrosion. The present solution can execute signal processing thatcan occur without having to test individual sections of pipe or removinga test coupon. This monitoring can happen continuously and/orperiodically, such that a rate of corrosion can be monitored to predictwhen pipes will need to be replaced to avoid a failure. The signalprocessing can identify an approximate location of the corrosion in asprinkler pipe system. The signatures of microwave signals are sensitiveto surface changes of a waveguide, so corrosion in a pipe serving as awaveguide will change the signature of a signal passing through thewaveguide (as opposed to a wave passing through the same pipe before itwas corroding). Through signal processing, the system may determine theposition of corrosion to within one foot based on the signal signatures.The signal processing can also indicate an extent of the corrosion in apipe or pipes.

Systems and methods as described herein can enable a fully containedcommunications system within the pipes and components of a fireprotection system, since RF signals will generally stay inside thepipes. This can give advantages for security and reliability of thesystem, making it more resistant to interference, intentional jamming,snooping, and/or issues caused by environmental changes that couldaffect wireless systems. The present solution can be retrofit toexisting pipe architectures. Sprinklers, detectors, and local processingunits may be replaced or updated, but an overall piping system would nothave to be replaced. For example, new sprinkler heads can be installedthat communicate through the existing pipes without having to makesignificant modifications to existing pipe architecture. Additionally,ongoing maintenance may be reduced as use of batteries may be reduced oreliminated compared to other systems capable of wireless communication.For example, batteries would not need to be inspected or changed(because batteries can be eliminated from a system or charged usingsignals of the system) and there would be no wireless hotspots a userhas to worry about maintaining. Batteries may be charged using wirelesscharging techniques that use the power from noise signals captured withan antenna to charge a capacitor or battery.

The present solution can give users/systems the option to commandtriggering or enable local triggering of sprinkler heads. The systemsmay power, control, and/or communicate with other sensors or devicesadjacent to the sprinklers and/or provide power to any attached devicesregardless of whether those devices communicate with a local processingunit or other device(s).

Pipes can be used as waveguides that can guide waves, such as RFsignals, sound, microwaves, and other electromagnetic waves. A wavetraveling within a waveguide will lose less energy than a wave that isnot traveling within a waveguide, because the waveguide itself restrictsat least one dimension (but often two dimensions) in which the wave canexpand. Accordingly, the signal strength at receivers or antennas in thesystem (such as at sprinkler heads) can be stronger than signals of asystem that use RF signals without waveguides.

Microwave signals can include RF signals that are in the range of 1 to100 GHz and can be routed and contained in waveguides. At thesefrequencies, cables may greatly attenuate microwave signals so thatcables may only be used efficiently over short distances. The presentsolution can use a waveguide that may be, for example, a rectangularmetal tube (e.g., pipe). The microwave can travel down the tube withvery low attenuation when compared with cables. For example, PVC pipesmay be used if the inside or outside is coated with a thin layer ofmetal such as copper. Although dry pipe sprinklers are discussed here,other metallically-coated pipe that is filled with a gas or vacuum andused for power or charging circuits and for one or bi-directionalcommunications can be used as well. Other shapes of waveguide are alsocontemplated herein, including waveguides with circular, square,elliptical, and other cross-sectional shapes.

The frequency used to communicate within the waveguide can be chosenbased upon the size and shape of the pipes within the system. Thedimensions of the pipes within the system can affect the efficiency ofsignal transmission through the system (e.g., the amount or rate ofpower loss/dissipation as a wave passes through the system), so thefrequency of the microwave can be chosen within a certain range basedupon the size and/or shape of the waveguide tube. A circular pipe likethat used in dry pipe systems with, for example, diameters of 2 inchesto 6 inches, can efficiently transmit microwave frequencies in the 1 to3.5 GHz range. Accordingly, in various embodiments, pipes of 2 to 6inches and waves of 1 to 3.5 GHz may be used.

RFID can enable two-way communications, measurements, and other actions,while being passive. The RFID chip/tag can power itself from a receivedRF signal so no battery is necessary. The RFID chips/tags can be verysensitive and capable of operating using small amounts of energy in highnoise environments. The noise may be generated, at least partially, fromthe waves propagating within the pipe sprinkler system. RFID chips/tagscan, for example, read a temperature from a sensor and control aninput/output (I/O) pin that could activate a sprinkler, all based on anRF signal received by the RFID chip/tag and without additional powerbeing supplied. The noise can also be captured by an RFID chip to powera capacitor or battery used to power sensors, communication devices,and/or sprinkler actuators. In various embodiments, passive RFID may beused in combination with active RFID or hybrid RFID systems as disclosedherein. Active and/or hybrid RFID systems as well as other types ofwireless communications systems may be used in lieu of passive RFIDsystems as well.

The attenuation of the dry pipe system to microwaves in frequencies suchas 1 to 3.5 GHz may be low enough to support, for example, over 1,000feet of pipe between an RF signal transmitter and an RFID chip/tag. Inother words, in a sprinkler pipe system, microwave RF signals supplyenough energy to power RFID chips/tags in a sprinkler and supporttwo-way communications with those RFID chips/tags, even if pipe lengthon the order of 1,000 feet exists between the RFID chip/tag and a signaltransmitter. In various embodiments, multiple RFID chips/tags will existat different sensors or sprinklers throughout the system at variouspoints along a network of pipes. The sensors or sprinklers may each becapable of one or two way communication with a base station (alsoreferred to herein as a local processing unit or LPU) as long as thedistance between base station and sensor or sprinkler is not greaterthan a particular threshold (e.g., 1000 feet). The threshold may varydepending on many factors, including noise in the pipes, number of turnsor bends in the pipe, type of pipe or coating on the pipe, size of pipe,frequency of the communications signals, whether the RFID chips/tags arepassive, hybrid, or active, and/or other factors.

Sensors within the pipe system can be monitored for corrosion as well.For example, some embodiments relate to the remote monitoring ofcorrosion, including the current level of the corrosion and the rate ofcorrosion, of equipment in a corrosive environment. The equipment beingmonitored can be, for example, pipes in piping systems (e.g., in fireprotection sprinkler systems), which are pervasive in a variety ofbusinesses, from restaurants to hotels. The level of the corrosion of apiece of equipment can relate to the amount of corrosion the equipmenthas experienced (e.g., weight loss per area, loss of thickness of themetal, or some other measure of corrosion). In addition, measuring therate of corrosion will help predict when a portion of the equipment(e.g., pipe walls) will be so thin that there is high likelihood offailure, e.g., leaks, and/or there could be a buildup that can causeblockage. Thus, measuring the rate of corrosion gives the user orbusiness time to schedule maintenance instead of performing emergencymaintenance on the piping systems. Accordingly, collecting the level ofthe corrosion and the corrosion rates can be used notify the user orbusiness of potential problems (e.g., blockages and/or leaks in thepipes) caused by the corrosion.

FIG. 1A depicts an example pipe 150 through which a wave 155 can bepassed. The head end of the system includes an RFID reader (which can asignal transmitter and a signal receiver, for example, as well as atransceiver) that transmits signals at a designed microwave frequencyfor the pipe system. The RFID reader of FIG. 1A includes an RFinjector/receiver type transceiver attached to the dry pipe system. InFIG. 1A, the head end of the system is an LPU 235. The RFinjector/receiver may be, for example, an antenna of the LPU 235configured to transmit signals into the pipe 150. The LPU 235 includesthe RF injector/receiver to transmit and/or receive RF signals to andfrom a detector 130 and/or a fluid distribution device 110. The RFIDreader in the LPU 235 is able to communicate with the detector 130, thefluid distribution device 110, and/or any additional device in thesystem.

Systems described herein can include various numbers of pipes 150,detectors 130, and fluid distribution devices 110. Each of the detectorsand fluid distribution devices of a system can have an RFID chip thathas an individually unique RFID chip/tag identifier. In this way, thesystem can monitor and keep track of specific devices, readings, and/orstates, for example. If a particular sprinkler head takes a temperaturereading, the status of that temperature reading can command anactivation of that sprinkler head, either through communication with theLPU 235 or through programmable and machine-executable logic that existsat the sprinkler head. By communicating a signal back the LPU 235indicating a state and a location (e.g., using the unique RFID chip/tagidentifier), the LPU 235 (and subsequently the system as a whole) canidentify information about that sprinkler head, including thetemperature reading and/or whether the sprinkler head has beenactivated. The RFID reader (and LPU 235, generally) can be connected toother systems so that the status of the dry pipe system can be monitoredremotely.

An antenna 160 can partially extend into the pipe 150. The antenna 160may be part of an RFID transceiver, and may be integrated onto an RFIDchip/tag. In this way, the wave 155 in the pipe can be captured andread. The antenna itself can extend into the pipe so that waves withinthe pipe can be received and waves can be transmitted into the pipe. Theantenna 160 can be arranged in the pipe 150 so that it does notsubstantially impede the flow of any fluid through the pipe 150. Forexample, the antenna 160 may be a small wire or wire loop extending intoa pipe 150. In some embodiments, the antenna 160 can also include anRFID chip/tag. Wiring 165 and 170 electrically connects the antenna 160to the fluid distribution device 110 and the detector 130. The detectorsand fluid distribution devices may have separate antennas. In someembodiments, devices that have interfaces to the inner parts of the pipe150 may have an antenna 160 built into them. For example, the fluiddistribution device 130 could have an antenna formed integrally thereinthat is exposed to the inside of the pipe 150, and therefore cansend/receive signals, including the wave 155 through the pipe. The fluiddistribution device 110 and the detector 130 can also send signalsthrough the wiring 165 and 170 to the antenna 160 to send signals backthrough the pipe to the LPU 235. In this way, two way communications arepossible as well.

The pipe 150 may be made of specific material to maximize the waveguideefficiency. For example, pipes made out of metal or having an inner orouter coating of metal may better contain a signal within the pipe.Signals within the pipe may have a particular frequency based on amaterial of the pipe and/or coating, the position of a coating (e.g.,whether the coating is on the inner or outer surface of a pipe), or thethickness of a coating and/or pipe.

The system can use the microwaves to power the devices 110 and 130.Power from the microwaves may be used for charging a battery or supercapacitor of various types, for example. In some embodiments, RFIDchips/tags may be passive, semi-passive (e.g., battery-assisted passiveor hybrid), and/or active. An active RFID chip/tag can have a battery orsuper capacitor that powers the transmission from the RFID chip/tag(e.g., sending a signal indicating a status of a sensor or sprinklerassociated with the RFID chip/tag). As discussed herein, the RFIDchip/tag may charge its battery or super capacitor based on RF signalsreceived at the RFID chip/tag. In semi-passive (battery-assisted orhybrid) RFID chips/tags, the RFID chip/tag can have a battery, but thecircuitry of the RFID chip/tag is only activated in the presence of anRFID reader (e.g., when the RFID chip/tag receives an RF signal from theRFID reader). In a passive RFID chip/tag, no battery is present, and theRFID chip/tag can use the radio energy from the RFID reader signals topower any sensors, actuators, etc. and transmit any communications backto the RFID chip/tag. Different combinations of components, active,passive, and semi-passive RFID readers and chips/tags may be used.

An example of a fire protection system 100 for the protection of astorage occupancy 10 and one or more stored commodities 12 is depictedin FIGS. 1B and 2. The fire protection system 100 can: (i) detect thepresence and location of a fire; and (ii) respond to the fire at athreshold moment with a controlled discharge and distribution of avolumetric flow of firefighting fluid, such as water, over the fire toeffectively address and/or quench the fire. Fluid distribution devices110 can be coupled to and spaced about the fire protection system 100 todeliver a controlled amount of firefighting fluid into a location wherea fire has been detected. In the fire protection system 100, as will bedescribed in additional detail herein, the various functions of the fireprotection system 100 can be carried out using RF signals that passthrough the pipes of the fire protection system 100.

The fire protection system 100 depicted in FIG. 1B includes a fluiddistribution sub-system 100 a, a control sub-system 100 b, and adetection sub-system 100 c. The sub-systems 100 a, 100 b, 100 c can worktogether to identify and address (e.g., quench) fires occurring withinthe storage occupancy 10, as depicted in FIG. 2. The fluid distributionand control sub-systems 100 a, 100 b can work together. For example, thecontrol sub-system 100 b and fluid distribution sub-system cancommunicate one or more control signals CS. The control signals CS cancorrespond to one or more commands that initiate and execute controlledoperation of selectively identified fluid distribution devices 110defining a discharge array to deliver and distribute the volumetric flowV of firefighting fluid throughout the site of a detected fire F inorder to effectively address and/or quench the fire.

The CS signals can include signals sent from the fluid distributiondevices 110. For example, the one or more fluid distribution devices 110may send control signals CS indicating a state of the fluid distributiondevice(s) 110 (e.g., sprinkler valve is open, sprinkler valve isclosed). The parameters of the volumetric flow V can be defined by acollection of distributed discharges Va, Vb, Vc, and Vd. The detectionsub-system 100 c, along with the control sub-system 100 b, can determinedirectly or indirectly, (i) the location and magnitude of a fire F inthe storage occupancy 10; and (ii) which of the fluid distributiondevices 110 should be activated in the controlled operation to addressthe fire F. The detection and control sub-systems 100 b, 100 c can worktogether by communicating one or more detection signals DS to detect andlocate the fire F. The detection signals DS may also be two-waycommunication signals. For example, a temperature sensor may have anRFID chip that is pinged by an RFID reader to output a temperaturereading and transmit the temperature reading back to the RFID reader.The fire protection system 100 also utilizes the pipes 150 as waveguidesas disclosed herein. As depicted in FIG. 1B, the LPU 235 is coupled towiring 185 that carries signals transmitted into and received from thepipe 150 f. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the control signals CS anddetector signals DS are inputted and received through the pipe 150. Atpipe 150 f, the wiring 185 includes an antenna 160 that extends into thepipe 150 f, so that control and detection signals CS, DS may be sent andreceived through the pipes 150 in the fire protection system 100 asdisclosed herein.

The fluid distribution devices 110 and the detectors 130 may communicatewith each other, as well as with the controller 235 (also referred toherein as a local processing unit or LPU). For example, if the fluiddistribution devices 110 and the detectors 130 are associated with anactive or semi-passive RFID chip/tag, the fluid distribution devices 110and the detectors 130 can transmit and/or receive communications withother devices. By having active or hybrid communication devices, thesystem may act in a more decentralized manner. A more decentralizedsystem 100 may enable continued system 100 operation if, for example, afire destroys a section of pipe and prevents the LPU 235 fromcommunicating with a detector 130. Although the detector 130 may notcommunicate directly with the LPU 234, the detector 130 may still bewithin range of another detector 130, which creates another possiblepath of communication with the LPU 235. Accordingly, the detector out ofrange of the LPU 235 could communicate with the second detector, whichcould then report back to the LPU 235 a status or reading regarding thedetector that was otherwise unreachable to the LPU 235. The pipes of thefire protection system 100, which guide communication through the system100, may be constructed such that there are multiple paths tocommunicate with any given device. Redundancies in communication pathscan allow the system to operate even when some damage (e.g., firedamage, corrosion) has occurred.

The detection sub-system 100 c can include a plurality of detectors 130disposed beneath the ceiling and above the commodity 12 in support ofthe fire protection system 100. In some embodiments, detectors 130 maybe located in any other location in addition to beneath a ceiling andabove a commodity 12. The control sub-system 100 b includes the LPU 235that can communicate with the detectors 130 and fluid distributiondevices 110 for the controlled operation of any identified group ofdevices 110 (e.g., those devices 110 that are near a detected fire).

The detectors 130 of the detector sub-system 100 c can monitor theoccupancy 10 to detect changes in temperature, thermal energy, spectralenergy, smoke and/or any other parameters that indicate the presence ofa fire in the occupancy 10. Each measurement can be communicated throughthe pipes 150 of the fire protection system 100 as discussed previously.The detectors 130 can include thermocouples, thermistors, infrareddetectors, and/or smoke detectors, for example. In some examples, thedetectors 130 for use in the system include TrueAlarm® Analog Sensinganalog sensors from SIMPLEX, TYCO FIRE PROTECTION PRODUCTS. As depictedin FIG. 1B, the one or more detectors 130 are disposed proximate thefluid distribution device 110 and below and proximate to the ceiling C.The detectors 130 can be mounted axially aligned with the sprinkler 110,(as schematically depicted in FIG. 8A) or above and offset from thedistribution device 110 (as schematically depicted in FIGS. 2 and 8B).The detectors 130 can be located at the same or any differentialelevation from the fluid distribution device 110. As previouslyindicated, the detectors 130 can be capable of communicating wirelesslywith the LPU 235 using the pipes 150 as waveguides. The detectors 130can communicate detection data or signals to the LPU 235 of the system100 for processing as well. The ability of the detectors 130 to monitorenvironmental changes indicative of a fire can depend upon the type ofdetector being used, the sensitivity of the detector, coverage area ofthe detector, and/or the distance between the detector and the fireorigin. The detectors 130 individually and collectively can beappropriately mounted, spaced and/or oriented to monitor the occupancy10 for the conditions of a fire in a manner described.

The fluid distribution subsystem 100 a can include a network of pipes150 having a portion suspended beneath the ceiling of the occupancy(e.g., having a height H1) and above the commodity to be protected(e.g., having a height H2). As depicted in FIG. 1B, the network of pipes150 can include one or more main pipes 150 a from which one or morebranch lines 150 b, 150 c, 150 d extend. The distribution devices 110can be mounted to and spaced along the spaced-apart branch pipes 150 b,150 c, 150 d to form a desired device-to-device spacing a×b. The pipingcan be arranged to satisfy the hydraulic demand of the system and theoperational fluid requirements of the distribution devices 110. Adetector 130 can be disposed above and axially aligned with eachdistribution device 110. The distribution devices 110, branch lines 150b, 150 c, 150 d and main pipe(s) 150 a can be arranged so as to defineeither one of a gridded network or a tree network. The network of pipes150 can further include pipe fittings such as connectors, elbows, andrisers, etc. to interconnect the fluid distribution portion of thesystem 100 and the fluid distribution devices 110. The RF signals and/ormicrowaves disclosed herein can travel in through the pipe systemsregardless of any connectors, elbows, risers, etc. that are used. Thevarious components used and their configurations may impact the distancethat a signal may travel within the pipes while maintaining signalintegrity and/or power, and may impact a frequency used for the signals.

The network of pipes 150 connects the fluid distribution devices 110 toa supply of firefighting fluid such as, for example, a water main 150 eor water tank. The fluid distribution sub-system 100 a can also includeadditional devices (not shown) such as, for example, fire pumps orbackflow preventers to deliver the water to the distribution devices 110at a desired flow rate and/or pressure. The fluid distributionsub-system 100 a further includes a riser pipe 150 f which extends fromthe fluid supply 150 e to the pipe mains 150 a. The riser 150 f caninclude additional components or assemblies to direct, detect, measure,and/or control fluid flow through the fluid distribution sub-system 110a. Measurements of sensors and instructions to actuate valves or otherdevices may all be communicated through the pipes 150. For example, thesystem can also include a flow meter for measuring the flow through theriser 150 f and the system 100, and the flow meter may communicate itsmeasurement to the LPU 235 using the pipes 150 as a waveguide. The fluiddistribution sub-system 100 a and the riser 150 f can also include afluid control valve that may be controlled using RF signals that passthrough a pipe 150 (e.g., a differential fluid-type fluid controlvalve). A fire protection system 100 may include more than one LPU 235located at various locations throughout the system 100. The LPUs 235 maycommunicate with one another. The LPUs 235 may be assigned tocommunicate throughout the occupancy 10 with a subset of thedistribution and detection devices 110, 130 in a system 100. Aparticular distribution or detection device 110, 130 may be configuredto communicate with only a single LPU 235 or configured to communicatewith more than one LPU 235 to provide additional communication paths andredundancy to the system 100.

The LPU 235 is depicted in FIG. 3. The LPU 235 can receive and processthe various input signals and generate output signals from and/or toeach of the detectors 130 and fluid distribution devices 110 through thepipe 150. Functionally, the LPU 235 includes a transceiver 120 a (e.g.,an RFID reader), a programming component 120 b, a processor 120 c and anoutside communications component 120 d. The outside communicationscomponent 120 d may, for example, communicate with a gateway 400(described below and shown in FIG. 15) or any of the components shown inFIG. 14 and described below (including the monitoring platform 230described further with respect to FIG. 16. The transceiver 120 a sendsand receives data and/or signals to and from the detectors 130 and thedistribution devices 110. For example, the transceiver 120 a can sendeither raw detector data or calibrated data, including continuous orintermittent temperature data, spectral energy data, smoke data or theraw electrical signals representing such parameters, (e.g., voltage,current, or digital signal). Additional data parameters collected fromthe detectors 130 and distribution devices 110 can include time data,address or location data of the detector 130, location of a detector ordistribution device 130, 110, flow through a distribution device 110, ora state of a distribution or detector device 110, 130. Thesecommunications can pass through the pipe system 150 as disclosed herein.The programming component 120 b provides for input of user-definedparameters, criteria or rules that can define detection of a fire, thelocation of the fire, the profile of the fire, the magnitude of the fireand/or a threshold moment in the fire growth. The programming component120 b can also provide for input of select or user-defined parameters,criteria, or rules to identify fluid distribution devices or assemblies110 for operation in response to the detected fire. For example, theprogramming component 120 b can define relationships betweendistribution devices 110 (e.g., proximity, adjacency, etc.), definelimits on the number of devices to be operated (i.e., maximum andminimums, the time of operation, the sequence of operation, pattern orgeometry of devices for operation, their rate of discharge), and/ordefine associations or relationships to detectors 130. The parametersused by the programming component 120 b may be determined from signalsreceived from other LPUs 235, which may be received through the pipingof the fire protection system 100. The various operational parameters,including information received from the detectors 130 and/or thedistribution devices 110, can be stored in a memory 117. The memory 117may also include instructions stored thereon that can be implemented bythe processor 120 c. The memory 117 and/or other memories describedherein may also be described as a non-transitory computer readablemedium on which instructions can be stored. The instructions may becarried out or executed by a computing device such as the LPU 235,including the processor 120 c and the transceiver 120 a. The LPU 235also includes an interface/display 115 through which a user may interactwith the data stored in the memory, check statuses of the fluiddistribution devices 110 and the detectors 130 (using signalstransmitted through the pipe 150), or perform other functions.

The processor 120 c processes the input and information from thetransceiver 120 a and programming component 120 b to first detect andlocate a fire, and then select, prioritize and/or identify the fluiddistribution devices 110 for controlled operation to address the fire.For example, the processor 120 c can determine when a threshold momentis achieved. Upon determining a threshold moment has been achieved, theprocessor 120 c generates appropriate signals to control operation ofthe identified and addressable distribution devices 110. Signals tocontrol the operation can be sent via the transceiver 120 a. Theprogramming may be hard wired or logically programmed and the signalsbetween system components can be analog, digital, and/or fiber opticdata. In some embodiments, the logic that determines when a thresholdmoment is achieved can be located at the detectors 130 or distributiondevices 110. In various embodiments, the detectors 130 and/ordistribution devices 110 may also trigger a change in state based on thethreshold moment being achieved without receiving instruction to do sofrom the LPU 235. The detectors 130 and/or distribution devices 110 canstill send a signal to the LPU 235 through the pipes 150 that thethreshold moment is achieved and/or that one of the devices has changedstates.

The LPU 235 can be a part of a communication system that includes anRFID tag that is associated with one of the detectors 130 and/ordistribution devices 110. For example, the LPU 235 can includecomponents of an RFID reader. An RFID reader may utilize aspects of thetransceiver 120 a, the processor 120 c, and the memory 117 tocommunicate with various RFID tags/chips at the detectors 130 and/ordistribution devices 110. The RFID reader of the LPU 235 communicateswith RFID tags via RF signals. At least one pipe 150 can extend betweenthe RFID tag and the RFID reader, which can be a part of a fireprotection system 100. The pipe 150 can have fluid flow through it forpurposes of controlling a fire, while also serving as a waveguide thatcan guide the RF signal through the pipe 150 between the RFID tag andthe RFID reader. The RF signals can be microwave signals. For example,microwaves having a frequency in a range from about 1 GHz to 3.5 GHz canbe used. Specifically, microwaves of approximately 1 GHz, approximately1.25 GHz, approximately 1.5 GHz, approximately 1.75 GHz, approximately 2GHz, approximately 2.25 GHz, approximately 2.5 GHz, approximately 2.75GHz, approximately 3 GHz, approximately 3.25 GHz, and/or approximately3.5 GHz can be used. The pipes 150 through which the microwave signalspass can have an approximately circular cross section and can have aninner diameter that is in a range from about 1 inch to 8.5 inches. Forexample, the inner diameters of the pipes 150 may be in a range fromabout 2 inches to 6.5 inches. As specific examples, inner diameters ofthe pipes may be approximately 1 inch, approximately 1.5 inches,approximately 2 inches, approximately 2.5 inches, approximately 3inches, approximately 3.5 inches, approximately 4 inches, approximately4.5 inches, approximately 5 inches, approximately 5.5 inches,approximately 6 inches, approximately 6.5 inches, approximately 7inches, approximately 7.5 inches, approximately 8 inches, and/orapproximately 8.5 inches.

The RFID tag can include an antenna 160 that is used to receive andtransmit RF signals. The RFID tag can also include a processing circuitoperatively connected to the antenna and configured to modulate and/ordemodulate the RF signals. The RFID tag can include a power circuitoperatively connected to the processing circuit and configured tocollect power from signals received by the antenna 160. The antenna 160extends into a pipe 150 of a fire protection system 100, and the pipe150 is configured for fluid to flow therein. The pipe 150 is alsoconfigured to be a waveguide such that the RF signals are guided by thepipe 150 to and from the antenna 160.

The RFID tags may include one or more sensors including a temperaturesensor, pressure sensor, flow rate sensor, smoke detector, thermalenergy sensor, spectral energy sensor, thermocouple, thermistor,infrared detector, gas detector, combustible gas sensor, photoionizationdetector, infrared point sensor, ultrasonic sensor, electrochemical gassensor, semiconductor sensor, corrosion monitoring sensor, and/orsprinkler activation sensor. The RFID reader of the LPU 235 can send anRF signal to an RFID tag, and the RFID tag utilizes power from the RFsignal to power the sensor(s). In response to the RF signal, the RFIDtag sends a second RF signal to the RFID reader, and the second RFsignal is associated with a measurement value of the sensor. In thisway, the sending of the second RF signal can be powered at least in partby power from the RF signal received from the RFID reader. The RF signalmay also help charge a battery and/or a super capacitor of the RFID tag.

RFID tags at the detectors 130 and/or distribution devices 110 can alsoinclude a memory, a processor operatively coupled to the memory, and aset of instructions stored on the memory, which can be executed by theprocessor to cause the processor to perform certain functions. Forexample, certain RFID tags may have their own software or logic storedon their memory that can be executed by the RFID tag's processor. Forexample, a detector 130 may be programmed to determine an output of asensor (e.g., temperature) that indicates a state of an environment ator near the RFID tag. Additionally, the RFID tag may be programmed tosend that measurement value to the RFID reader if it, for example,reaches a predetermined threshold. In another example, the RFID tag maybe requested to send a signal to the RFID reader indicating a state of adevice (e.g., is sprinkler open or closed). In response to any of thesignals sent from the RFID tag, the LPU 235 may decide to activate asprinkler head, and may send another RF signal with an instruction for asprinkler head to actuate/activate.

RF communications can be continuously transmitted and received betweenthe detectors 130, fluid distribution devices 110, and LPUs 235. In thisway, sensors and distribution devices 110 may be continually monitored.Corrosion monitoring devices can monitor and communicate with the fireprotection system 100 as well. An example of a corrosion monitoringdevice is described in more detail in commonly-owned U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/620,590, filed on Jan. 23, 2018 and entitled“Apparatus and Method for Remote Monitoring of Equipment,” which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Existing LPUs may be modified to function like the LPU 235 shown in FIG.3 and described herein. For example, an existing LPU may have atransceiver 120 a added that communicates with the processor 120 c andextends an antenna (e.g., antenna 160, shown in FIG. 1) into the pipe150 so that it can communicate with detectors 130 and distributiondevices 110.

FIG. 4 depicts a method 900 for transmitting and receiving RF signals atan LPU. At step 905, an LPU (e.g., LPU 235) transmits a first RF signalto a remote device (e.g., a detector device 130 or a fluid distributiondevice 110). The first RF signal is sent through a pipe (e.g., pipe 150)configured as a waveguide. For example, an RFID reader can be pinging anRFID tag and that signal can be sent through the pipeline of a fireprotection system. This signal may be a request for information from adevice associated with an RFID tag about a sensor measurement or stateof a device, for example, or the signal may be instructions for a deviceassociated with an RFID tag to change states.

At step 910, the LPU receives a second RF signal from the remote devicein response to the first RF signal. The second RF signal is received bythe LPU through the waveguide pipe. The second RF signal is transmittedbecause the RFID tag received the first signal and responded with theappropriate request for information or sent confirmation of a change ofstate of the device associated with the RFID tag. The information may berelated to a sensor, detector, state of a distribution device, and/ormay include an identifier of the RFID tag to which the signal was sent.For example, the LPU may request an indication that a sensor is active,a measurement from the sensor, and/or an identification of the sensor.The sensor can send back an appropriate signal indicating it is in aworking state, the value measured by the sensor, and/or information thatconfirms the identity of the sensor (such as a unique identifier).

FIG. 5 depicts a method 1000 for transmitting and receiving RF signalsat a distribution device (e.g., fluid distribution device 110). At step1005, the distribution device receives a first RF signal from a remotecontroller (such as an LPU 235) through a pipe (e.g., pipe 150)configured as a waveguide. The first RF signal indicates to adistribution device that the distribution device should change states.For example, if the distribution device is a sprinkler head, the firstRF signal may indicate that the sprinkler head should be actuated toallow the discharge of fluid from the sprinkler head. Alternatively, ifthe distribution device is a sprinkler head capable of beingcontrollably opened and closed, the first RF signal may indicate thatthe sprinkler head should be opened or closed to allow or prevent fluidto pass through the sprinkler head in a controlled manner. In someembodiments, a sprinkler head may also have intermediate states, such as25% open, 50% open, and/or 75% open. In another example, thedistribution device may be a pump, and the first RF signal may be asignal that indicates to the pump it should turn on or off, or shouldpump at a particular rate.

At step 1010, the distribution device determines that the distributiondevice that received the RF signal should be actuated, based on thefirst RF signal. The LPU may process data identifying the location of afire. Accordingly, the LPU can send the first RF signal to adistribution device, which instructs the distribution device to actuateto address the fire. The distribution device can be a sprinkler head,for example, and the first RF signal indicates that the sprinkler headshould be actuated to address a fire. At step 1015, the distributiondevice is activated in response to the first RF signal. At step 1020,the distribution device sends a second RF signal to the remotecontroller (such as the LPU) through the pipe indicating that thedistribution device has been actuated (i.e., indicating the state of thedistribution device). In some embodiments, the distribution device maysend and/or receive RF signals to other distribution or sensor devicesin addition to or instead of an LPU.

FIG. 6 depicts a process 1100 for transmitting and receiving RF signalsat a detector device (e.g., detector device 130). At step 1105, a firstRF signal is received from a remote controller (such as an LPU 235) at adetector device through a pipe (e.g., pipe 150) configured as awaveguide. For example, the first RF signal may indicate a request for ameasurement at the sensor device such as a temperature sensor. At step1110, the detector device determines, based on the signal, that a stateof the detector device should be determined. For example, the detectorcan understand from the first RF signal that a temperature measurementshould be taken. The first RF signal may indicate that a temperaturemeasurement should be taken because the detector device is only atemperature sensor and the first RF signal is addressed to thetemperature sensor. In another example, the detector device may includemultiple sensors, but the first RF signal includes a requestspecifically for temperature information and an indication that thefirst RF signal is addressed to the detector device specifically. Inother embodiments, the first RF signal may not be addressed to specificdetector devices, but rather may be addressed to all detector devices ora subset of detector devices.

At step 1115, the detector device determines its state (e.g., atemperature measurement). At step 1120, the detector device sends asecond RF signal through the waveguide pipe indicating the state of thedetector device. The second RF signal may include additional informationin addition to the state information. For example, the second RF signalmay indicate an identity of the detector device. This may allow the LPUto infer a location of the detector device. In some embodiments, thesecond RF signal may include location information, time information,battery level information of the detector device, or any otherinformation as disclosed herein.

FIG. 7A depicts an operation 1600 for determining corrosion in equipmentof a fire protection system (e.g., fire protection system 100). At step1605, a first RF signal that has passed through at least one pipe of afire protection system is received at a signal processor. The signalprocessor may, for example, be the processor 120 c of the LPU 235 shownin FIG. 3 and described above. Accordingly, the signal processor may beat an RFID reader (because the LPU 235 includes an RFID reader). Thus,the signals received at the LPU 235 pass through at least one pipe ofthe fire protection system and may be used for corrosion detection. Insome embodiments, the signal processor may be located elsewhere, such asat an RFID tag/chip device (e.g., a detector device 130 or fluiddistribution device 110). In these embodiments, determination of whethercorrosion has occurred may be determined at devices of the system otherthan the LPUs. This may provide for more accurate or more localizeddetermination of corrosion. In some embodiments, the signal processorfor determining corrosion may be separate from the LPUs, the detectiondevices, and the fluid distribution devices. That is, the system mayhave a dedicated device just for receiving RF signals and using them todetermine corrosion as described herein.

At step 1610, a signature of the first RF signal is determined. Thesignature of the first RF signal may be determined in various ways. Thefirst RF signal may be put through various signal processing componentsto determine a signature. The signature may be based on a waveform ofthe signal. The signature may be based on certain characteristics of thewaveform, such as frequency, amplitude, distortion, noise, phase, and/orother characteristics of the first RF signal. Certain mathematicalalgorithms may be applied to the signal or to data indicated by thesignal to determine a signature of the RF signal. In some embodiments,the signature may represent the actual waveform of the first RF signalitself.

At step 1615, the signature of the first RF signal is compared to anexpected signature. This signature comparison can happen in a variety ofways. The expected signature may be based on an RF signal receivedearlier in time. For example, the system may have already received abaseline RF signal at a first time, and determined the expectedsignature by determining the signature of the baseline RF signal. Then,when the first RF signal is received at a second time, the signature ofthe first RF signal can be compared to the expected signature determinedfrom the baseline RF signal. In this way, the change or differencebetween the expected signature and the first signature can indicate thatcorrosion has occurred (and/or that certain levels, locations, etc. ofcorrosion has occurred). In an example, the expected signature may bebased on several baseline RF signals. The system may determinesignatures of several RF signals received over a first time period, anduse those signals to determine the baseline signature. Similarly, thefirst RF signal may be multiple RF signals received over a second timeperiod. These signals collected over first and second time periods canbe used to determine an average expected and first signature for eachtime period to be compared. In other various embodiments, a plurality ofbaseline signals may be used to determine a baseline signature that iscompared to a single signature of a single first RF signal. In someembodiments, an expected signature of a single baseline signal may becompared to a plurality of signatures of a plurality of received RFsignals.

In an example of signature comparison, the expected signature is acalculated signature and is not based on a previously received signal. Acalculated expected signature may be based on at least one of a size ofthe at least one pipe, a length of the at least one pipe, a type offluid present in the at least one pipe, a pressure of the fluid presentin the at least one pipe, a type of the at least one pipe, a coating ofthe at least one pipe, an expected frequency of the first RF signal, anexpected amplitude of the first RF signal, an expected phase of thefirst RF signal, and a path shape of the at least one pipe. Thesevarious system and signal aspects can be used to determine what type ofsignal should be expected. Any differences between the expectedsignature of a signal and the actual signature of the received first RFsignal can indicate corrosion or some level, location, etc. ofcorrosion. In another example of signature comparison, a hybrid methodmay be used, where the expected signature is determined both based on aprior, baseline signal and various aspects of the system and first RFsignal as described above.

At step 1620, the signal processor determines, based on the comparisonof the signature to the expected signature, whether corrosion in the atleast one pipe of the fire protection system has occurred. In someembodiments, the determination that corrosion has occurred results whena difference in an aspect of the signature comparison reaches apredetermined threshold. For example, if a first signature is a certainthreshold out of phase with an expected signature, the system maydetermine that corrosion is occurring. In another example, the frequencysignatures may differ by a predetermined threshold. In another example,a signal may include a known message or data pattern (known totransmitter and receiver) that is corrupted in transit (i.e., passingthrough the pipes) indicating that corrosion is taking place.

At step 1625, the signal processor determines based on the comparison ofthe signature to the expected signature, at least one of a level ofcorrosion of the at least one pipe, a rate of corrosion of the at leastone pipe, and an approximate location of corrosion of the at least onepipe. In some embodiments, a determination of a rate of corrosion of apipe is based on a plurality of comparisons of RF signals to expectedsignatures over time. In other words, the first RF signal may becompared to a plurality of other signals received over time before thefirst RF signal was received (i.e., there are multiple baselines tocompare the first RF signal to, so that a rate of corrosion can bededuced). In various embodiments, the extent and/or rate of corrosion isdetermined based on extrapolating or inferring an amount of corrosionbased on a magnitude of the difference in signatures when performing thecomparison. This magnitude may be measured whether the signature iscompared to one or many expected signatures.

In various embodiments, the system may also determine from the signaturecomparison an approximate location of corrosion of the at least onepipe. For example, the determined approximate location of the corrosionin the at least one pipe can be indicated by a distance between a sourcefrom which the first RF signal was transmitted and a receiver where theRF signal was received. For example, FIG. 7B depicts a representativeillustration of two different paths a signal may take within a pipesystem 1950 in accordance with some embodiments of the presenttechnology. The LPU 235 of the pipe system 1950 transmits a signal 1960through the pipe 1955. The signal 1960 splits at a fitting 1965 insignals 1970 and 1975 and travel through pipes 1990 and 1995,respectively. Those pipes run to devices 1980 and 1985. Additionally,the devices 1980 and 1985 may send signals back to the LPU 235 along thesame paths. A comparison of signatures to expected signatures of the twodifferent signal paths 1970 and 1975 can indicate where in the pipesystem 1950 corrosion is occurring. For example, if a comparison of asignal associated with the device 1980 and the signal 1970 demonstratescorrosion, but a comparison of a signal associated with the device 1985and the signal 1975 does not, the system can assume that the corrosionis occurring in the pipe section 1990. If both signals show corrosion,the system knows there could be corrosion in any of the pipes 1955,1990, or 1995. This corrosion detection method may rely on an identifiermessage in the RF signal that identifies a location of the source fromwhich the RF signal was transmitted. To ensure that the path of thesignal 1970 is being compared (and corrosion determined), the signal mayinclude an identifier relating to the device 1980. In this example, thesignal 1970 is transmitted from the device 1980 so that it includes anidentifier of the device 1980, and the LPU 235 determines the signatureof that signal knowing it has passed through the pipes 1955 and 1990. Inmore complex systems, combinatorial logic can be used to further deducelocations of corrosion within a pipe system. With many signals passingthrough various pipe section from various devices, the system cananalyze them all to help pinpoint precise locations of corrosion. Insome systems, a signal from a device may have more than one path back tothe LPU 235. These paths may be different distances and therefore causea signal to become more attenuated and arrive at an LPU 235 later thanwhen the signal travels through the shorter path. These multiple signals(as received by the LPU 235) associated with (or transmitted by) aparticular device, may be compared to one another to determine corrosionalong some or part of the multiple paths the signals take to reach theLPU 235. In some embodiments, the comparison of signatures itself mayindicate the approximate location of where corrosion is occurring. Forexample, a comparison of the signal 1960 in FIG. 7B may yieldinformation that corrosion is occurring 15 feet from the LPU 235 in thepipe 1955.

The same RF and microwave signals may be used by the system for one ortwo way communication between LPUs and device that are used forcorrosion sensing and monitoring. This efficiency of the system isadvantageous and can be accomplished without implementing any hardwarewithin the pipes themselves. Accordingly, in some embodiments, existing,older pipe systems may be monitored and used as wave guides forcommunications. An LPU may still be configured to send and receivesignals into an existing pipe system to determine corrosion. Forexample, an LPU may send a signal into a pipe system and analyze itssignature for corrosion when the signal is reflected back. In anotherexample, a system may have multiple LPUs which may transmit signals toone another for communication and/or corrosion monitoring. In such anexample, a first LPU may transmit a signal and a second LPU may receiveit. Corrosion and an approximate location of corrosion based on thesignal may be determined by the second LPU using the similar methods tothose described above with respect to determining corrosion based onsignals from device (e.g., sensors, sprinkler heads) within the system.In some embodiments, this signal processing could also take place atdevices such as sensors and/or sprinkler heads.

A fluid distribution device 110 in accordance with various embodimentsincludes a fluid deflecting member coupled to a frame body as depictedin FIGS. 8A and 8B. The frame body includes an inlet for connection tothe piping network and an outlet with an internal passageway extendingbetween the inlet and the outlet. The deflecting member can be axiallyspaced from the outlet in a fixed spaced relation. Water or otherfirefighting fluid delivered to the inlet is discharged from the outletto impact the deflecting member. The deflecting member distributes thefirefighting fluid to deliver a volumetric flow which contributes to thecollective volumetric flow to address and quench a fire. The deflectingmember can translate with respect to the outlet to distribute thefirefighting fluid in a controlled manner upon operation. The actuatingportion of the fluid distribution devices 110 x can be controlled bysignals from LPUs 235 and received through pipes 150. The fluiddistribution devices 110 x can also communicate to and from the LPUs 235through the pipes 150. Similarly, detection devices 130 can alsocommunicate to and from the LPUs 235 through the pipes 150 as disclosedherein. A valve 110 z may be provided between the pipes 150 and thefluid distribution devices 110 x.

FIG. 9 depicts an operation 1160 that can be performed by the LPU 235 inthe system 100. In an operative state of the system, the processingcomponent 120 c processes the input data to detect 1162 and locate 1164a fire F. Such input data is received from detector devices 130 in thesystem through communications that pass through the pipe system 150(using the pipes as waveguides) as disclosed herein. The processingcomponent 120 c, based upon the detection and/or other input data orsignals from the detection sub-system 100 c, identifies 1166 the fluiddistribution devices 110 which define an array above and about thelocated fire F for controlled discharge. The processing component 120 cdetermines a threshold moment 1168 in the fire for operation anddischarge from the selected array of fluid distribution devices. In step1170, the processing component 120 c with the output component 120 dappropriately signals to operate 1170 the identified fluid distributiondevices for addressing and quenching the fire. These outputs are sentthrough the pipes 150 of the fire protection system 100, using the pipesas waveguides for the signals.

FIGS. 10, 11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B depict various types of sprinkler headsthat may be controlled and/or monitored using communications sentthrough pipes of a sprinkler system (e.g., fire protection system 100).Each of the sprinklers 130, 310, 410 has an actuating mechanism that canbe controlled and/or monitored by a control panel or LPU 235. Thesprinkler 310 includes a sprinkler frame 345 having a first end and asecond end. The sprinkler 310 includes a frame body 322 having an inlet330 at the first end of the frame and an outlet 332 located between thefirst end and the second end of the frame 345. The inlet 330 can beconnected to the piping network as previously described. In anunactuated state of the sprinkler 310, the outlet 332 is occluded orsealed by a sealing assembly 324 to control discharge from the device310. The sealing assembly 324 generally includes a sealing button, bodyor plug 323 disposed within the outlet 332 coupled to or engaged with abiasing member such as, for example, a Belleville spring or otherresilient ring which acts to bias the button 323 out of the outlet 32.Supporting the sealing assembly 324 within the outlet 332 is anelectrically operated releasing mechanism 328. The releasing mechanism328 defines a first unactuated configuration or arrangement to maintainthe sealing assembly 324 within the outlet 332. The releasing mechanism328 also defines an actuated second configuration or state in which thereleasing mechanism 328 operates to release its support of the sealingassembly 324 and permit ejection of the sealing assembly 324 from theoutlet 332 and discharge of the firefighting fluid from the outlet 332.The releasing mechanism 328 can provide for a hook and strut assemblywith a designed fracture region. A link couples the hook and strut withan electrically operated linear actuator that breaks the link touncouple the hook and strut. The releasing mechanism 328 includes astrut member 342, a lever member embodied as a hook member 344, atension link 346, a screw or other threaded member 353, and an actuator314. The tension link 346 includes a designed fracture region to providefor a controlled break at which at which the releasing mechanism 328operates. The screw 353 forms a threaded engagement with the frame 345and applies a load axially aligned with the longitudinal axis A-A. Thehook and strut arrangement 342, 344 transfer the axial load of the screw353 to the sealing assembly 324 to keep the assembly seated against theinternally formed sealing seat. More specifically, in the unactuatedconfiguration of the releasing mechanism 328, a first end 352 of thestrut 342 is in contact with the hook member 344 at a notch 358 todefine a fulcrum, and the second strut end 354 is engaged with a groove356 formed on the button 323 of the sealing assembly 324 and locatedalong the longitudinal axis A-A. The axially acting screw 353 appliesits load on the hook member 344 at a second notch 360 to a first side ofthe fulcrum to define a first moment arm relative to the fulcrum definedby the first end 352 of the strut member 342. Accordingly, the first end352 of the strut 342 is disposed slightly offset from the longitudinalaxis A-A. Countering the moment generated by the load screw 353 is thelink 346 which couples the hook member 344 to the strut member 342 tostatically maintain the hook and strut arrangement for supporting thesealing assembly 324 against the bias of the sealing spring or fluidpressure delivered to the sprinkler. More specifically, the link 346engages the hook member 344 at a location between the first end 371 andthe second end 373 of the hook member 344 relative to the first end 352of the strut 342 to define a second moment arm which is sufficient tomaintain the hook member 344 in a static position with respect to thestrut 342 in the unactuated state of the releasing mechanism 328. Thehook member 344 can include an opening or recess 366 having an internalthread for threaded engagement with an externally threaded portion ofthe actuator 314. The actuator 314 may be coupled with the hook member344 using, e.g., bolts, strap, clip, etc. In an unactuated state, thepiston 381 of the actuator 314 is in a retracted position and theactuator 314 is spaced from the strut 342, the distance can be less than10 mm. While the actuator 314 is disposed such that the actuator 314forms an angle A0 relative to the longitudinal axis A-A, which may beless than ninety degrees, equal to ninety degrees, or greater thanninety degrees. The profile of the hook member 344 may be varied toaccommodate the various angle A0 to meet the design needs. Uponelectronic actuation of the actuator 314, the piston 381 can be causedto extend to an extended position and the actuator 314 applies a forceon the strut 342. As the applied force exceeds the maximum tensile loadof the tension link 346, the tension link 346 fails (or parts into twoor more pieces) permitting the hook member 344 to pivot about the firstend 352 of the strut member 342 in a pivoted engagement; and thereleasing mechanism 328 collapses allowing the sealing assembly 324 tobe released from the outlet 332. That is, the releasing mechanism 328transitions from the first configuration (or unactuated state) to thesecond configuration (or actuated state). Subsequently, water containedin the frame body can be discharged to address a fire in a manner asdescribed herein. The actuator 314 can be one of various types ofactuators such as, for example, a pyrotechnic actuator or a solenoidactuator. The actuator 314 can be a pyrotechnic actuator such as MetronProtractor™ made by Chemring Energetics UK Ltd, e.g., DR2005/C1 MetronProtractor™. The Metron™ actuator (or Metron™ protractor) is apyrotechnic actuator that utilizes a small explosive charge to drive apiston. This device is designed to create mechanical work through fastmovement when the piston is driven by the combustion of a small quantityof explosive material. The tension link 346 can include a first portion372 and a second portion 374. The first and second portions 372, 374 areconnected by a third portion (or an intermediate portion) 376. In theunactuated state of the sprinkler and releasing mechanism 328, the firstportion 372 is engaged with the strut 342 and the second portion 374 isengaged with the hook member 344 in the first configuration. The firstand second portions 372, 374 can include first and second openings 382,384, respectively. The first portion 372 can be coupled with the strut342 through the first opening 382 and the second portion 374 is coupledwith the hook member 344 through the second opening 384. The thirdportion (or intermediate portion) 376 is designed to collapse (or fail)when the force applied to the strut 342 by the actuator 314 exceeds athreshold value. Thus, the third portion 376 is designed to be afracture point or region when the tensile load on the tension link 346caused by the actuator 314 exceeds a predetermined design value orcapacity of the fracture region. For this reason, the maximum tensileload or capacity that the third portion 376 can withstand before failureis less than the maximum tensile load that either the first or secondportion 372, 374 can withstand before failure. The maximum tensilestrength or capacity of the third portion 376 can be less than themaximum tensile strength of either the first or second portion 372, 374.Such a design can be achieved in various ways. For example, the thirdportion 376 may have a thickness less than that of the first and/orsecond portions, a width less than that of the first and/or secondportions, one or more perforated portions, cut-out portions, notches,grooves, or any combination thereof, etc. In some cases, a brittlematerial such as ceramics or gray cast iron may be used for the tensionlink 346 to facilitate failure caused by impact or explosive force from,e.g., a Metron™ actuator. As long as the maximum tensile strength of thethird portion 376 is less than the maximum tensile strength of eitherthe first or second portion 372, 374, any design of the tension link maybe employed. The tension link 346 can include the third portion 376 thathas a thickness TH3 less than a thickness TH1, TH2 of the first andsecond portions 372, 374, and a width WT3 less than a width WT1, W2 ofthe first and second portions 372, 374. The thickness TH3 of the thirdportion 376 can be less than half the thickness ½*TH1, ½*TH2 of thefirst and second portions 372, 74. In the plan or top view of the link346, notches 369 are formed about the intermediate third portion 376which can define or be subject to stress concentration under tensileloading. Thus, the tension link 346 has an intermediate portion 376 thatincludes the features of a smaller thickness, a smaller width, andnotches to induce stress concentration to ensure that the fractureoccurs in the intermediate portion 376 at a predetermined tensile forcefrom the actuator 314. The design of the tension link 346 is, forexample, based on i) determination of desired failure load applied bythe strut 342 and the hook member 344 to the tension link 346 when theactuator 314 is actuated and ii) the tensile strength of the chosenmaterial for the tension link 346. Subsequently, the cross-sectionalarea of each portion of the tension link 346 can be calculated andappropriate dimensions can be derived to achieve the failure at theintermediate portion 376. The tensile link 346 may be made of a singlecomponent or material such as steel, plastic, metal alloy, ceramics etc.The tensile link 346 may be composed of two or more materials. Forexample, the intermediate portion 376 may be made of a material whosetensile strength is less than that of the first and second portions 372,374. The tensile link 346 can be formed by a suitable technique, suchas, for example, stamping, casting, deep drawing or a combination ofstamping, casting, deep drawing or machining.

The sprinkler 410 can include a frame 432 including a frame body 412having an inlet 420, an outlet 422, and an internal surface 424 defininga passageway 426 extending between the inlet 420 and the outlet 422. Theinlet 420 can be connected to the piping network as previouslydescribed. The frame 432 includes at least one frame arm and can includetwo frame arms 413 a, 413 b disposed about the body 412 that convergetoward an apex 438 that can be integrally formed with the frame armsaxially aligned along the sprinkler longitudinal axis A-A. Shown in anunactuated state of the sprinkler 410, the outlet 422 is occluded orsealed by a sealing assembly to prevent the discharge of a firefightingfluid from the outlet 422. The sealing assembly 414 generally includes asealing body, plug or button disposed in the outlet 422 coupled to orengaged with a biasing member such as, for example, a Bellville springor other resilient ring which is to assist ejecting the sealing body outof the outlet 422. Supporting the sealing assembly within the outlet 422is a releasing mechanism 416. The releasing mechanism 416 defines afirst unactuated configuration or arrangement to maintain the sealingassembly 414 within the outlet 422 and properly engaged with a sealingseat formed about the outlet 422. The releasing mechanism 416 alsodefines a second actuated configuration or state in which the releasingmechanism 416 disengages the sealing assembly 414 to permit ejection ofthe sealing assembly 414 from the outlet 422 and the discharge of fluid.The releasing mechanism 416 can include a strut member 442, a levermember embodied as a hook member 444, a screw 440, and a linear actuator446. The strut member 442 has a first strut end 448 and a second strutend 450. The screw 440 forms a threaded engagement with the frame 432and applies a load axially aligned with the longitudinal axis A-A. Thehook and strut arrangement 442, 444 transfer the axial load of the screw440 to the sealing assembly to keep the assembly seated. In theunactuated configuration of the releasing mechanism 416, the first end448 of the strut member 442 is in contact with the hook member 444 at afirst notch 458 to define a fulcrum, and the second strut end 450 of thestrut member 442 is engaged with a groove formed on the button of thesealing assembly 414. The strut member 442 is disposed parallel andoffset to the longitudinal sprinkler axis A-A. The axially acting screw440 applies its load on the hook member 444 at the second notch 460 to afirst side of the fulcrum to define a first moment arm relative to thefulcrum defined by the first end 452 of the strut member 442. The amountof load placed on the first lever portion 454 by the screw 440 can becontrolled by adjusting the torque of the screw 440 through theinternally threaded portion of the apex 438. In this way, the screw (orcompression screw member) 440 places a sealing force on the sealing bodyin the outlet 422 in the unactuated state. The hook member 444 can beU-shaped. The hook member 444 has a first lever portion 454, a secondlever portion 456, and a connecting portion 455 between and connectingthe first and second lever portion 454, 456. The connecting portion 455can extend parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A. The first and secondlever portions 454, 456 can extend parallel to each other andperpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A in the unactuated state. Thescrew 440 acts on the first lever portion 454 at a first side of thefulcrum defined by the first end 448 of the strut member 442. In theunactuated state of the releasing mechanism 416, the second leverportion 456 is in a frictional engagement with the strut member 442. Thesecond lever portion 456 can include a catch portion 466. The catchportion 466 is in a frictional engagement with a portion of the strutmember 442 such that the hook 444 is prevented from pivoting about thefulcrum to statically maintain the releasing mechanism in the unactuatedstate under the load of the screw 440. The strut member 442 and hookmember 444 can be in a direct interlocked engagement with each other inthe first configuration of the releasing mechanism. The trigger assemblycan include a linear actuator to act on one of the strut member and hookmember to release the direct interlocked engagement in the secondconfiguration of the trigger assembly. In this way, the load (or sealingforce) from the screw 440 is transferred to the sealing assembly 414,thereby supporting the sealing assembly in the outlet 422. The catchportion 466 may be integrally formed with the second lever portion 456.The catch portion 466 may be made separately from the hook 44 andattached to the hook 44. The strut member 442 can have an intermediateportion 480 between the first end 448 and the second end 450. Theintermediate portion 480 can define a window, slot or opening 474therein, through which the second lever portion 456 of the hook member444 extends in the first configuration (or unactuated state).Specifically, the strut 442 can have an internal edge 482 defining thewindow 474 and the catch portion 466 can latch or interlock with theinternal edge 482 of the strut 442 by being in direct contact with thestrut 442 in the first configuration or unactuated state of thereleasing mechanism 416. The releasing mechanism 416 can include alinear actuator 446 to operate the releasing mechanism and actuate thesprinkler 410. The linear actuator 446 defines a retracted configurationin the unactuated state of the sprinkler 410 and an extendedconfiguration in the actuated state of the sprinkler 410. The actuator446 is mounted or coupled to the strut member 442. The strut member caninclude a mount or platform 468 for mounting the linear actuator 446.The mount 468 ca be formed from the intermediate portion 480 between thefirst and second ends 448, 450 of the strut member 444. The linearactuator 446 is attached or coupled to the mount 468 by any appropriatemeans to permit the movable member 472 of the linear actuator 446 tolinearly translate in a manner as described herein. The actuator 446 caninclude a movable piston 472; and the actuator 446 is mounted such thatthe piston 472 translates axially substantially parallel to thesprinkler axis A-A from the retracted configuration to the extendedconfiguration in a direction from the first portion 458 of the hookmember 444 and toward the second portion 456 of the hook member.Moreover, the actuator 446 is mounted such that the linearly axialtranslation of the movable piston 472 contacts and displaces the secondportion 456 of the hook member 444 so as to operate the releasingmechanism in a manner as described herein. The actuator 446 can beembodied by any one of various types of actuators such as, for example,a pyrotechnic actuator or a solenoid actuator. In some applications, theactuator 446 is a pyrotechnic actuator such as for example, MetronProtractor™ made by Chemring Energetics UK Ltd, e.g., DR2005/C1 MetronProtractor™. The sprinkler 410 may not operate passively by exposure toan increasing temperature from a fire, for example, as do automaticsprinklers having a thermally responsive trigger, link or bulb. Instead,the sprinkler 410 can be actively operated to enable controlledactuation and discharge from the fire sprinkler 410. The connection orcommunication between the releasing mechanism 416 and controller 120 canbe a wired communication connection or a wireless communicationconnection. To actuate the sprinkler 410, the controller 120 signalsoperation for the actuator 446 to switch from its retractedconfiguration to its extended configuration. In the system 100, theelectrical signal from the controller 120 can be automatically initiatedfrom the detectors 130 which are coupled to the controller 120. Uponreceipt of the appropriate operating signal, the actuator 446 operatesto unlatch the hook member 444 from the strut member 442 so as to alterthe releasing mechanism 416 from its first unactuated configuration toits second actuated configuration. More specifically, the piston 472 ofthe actuator 446 can be extended to contact and push down the secondlever portion 456 so as to displace or bend the second lever portion 456of the hook member such that the catch portion 466 disengages orunlatches from the strut member 442, and the hook member 444 rotatesabout the fulcrum under the load of the screw 440. In the actuatedconfiguration, the releasing mechanism 416 collapses to remove itssupport of the sealing assembly thereby allowing the sealing assembly414 to be released from the outlet 422 and fluid to be discharged toaddress a fire in manner described herein. Firefighting fluid isdischarged to impact a deflector assembly 436 coupled to the sprinklerframe 432 and is redistributed in a desired manner to address a fire.The deflector assembly 436 can include a deflector member that isdisposed at a fixed distance from the outlet 422 in the longitudinaldirection. The frame arms disposed about the body 412 extend andconverge toward the apex 438 that is axially aligned along thelongitudinal axis A-A. The deflector member can be supported at thefixed distance from the outlet 422 by the arms and apex of the sprinklerframe. For the releasing mechanism 416, the actuator 446 can be mountedon the strut member 442 thus requiring no separate mounting in thesprinkler frame 432 for installation of the actuator 446. Moreover, whenthe sprinkler is actuated, the actuator 446 and the releasing mechanism416 are ejected away from the sprinkler frame 432. Thus, there is noobstruction (or disruption) in the waterway between the outlet 422 tothe deflector assembly 436 by the actuator 446 and/or the releasingmechanism 416. Furthermore, the releasing mechanism 416 may not includea separate link that connects a hook to a strut. The hook and catchportion can function as a link between the hook member and the strutmember, thereby removing the need for a separately provided link andsimplifying the design of the releasing mechanism.

Each actuating mechanism can be coupled to an antenna 162 by a wire 164that extends into the plug socket of the sprinkler. The antenna 162 maybe a wire, wire loop, or other electronic component(s) designed to pickup a signal. Other components of an RFID tag can exist in thesocket/plug with the antenna 162 or may be placed nearer to theactuating mechanism. By inserting the antenna 162 into the chamber ofthe socket/plug where firefighting liquid flows, the antenna can pick upRF signals that are inside the socket/plug portion. Any of thesprinklers depicted in FIGS. 10, 11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B can replacesprinklers to retrofit fire protection systems without having to makemodifications to the pipe systems. Because plug socket of the sprinkleris connected with the inside of the pipe system once the sprinklers areinstalled, any signals transmitted into the pipe system can beread/picked up by the antennas 162. Likewise, the RFID tags/chips of thesprinklers or other devices can transmit signals through the antennas162 into the pipe system via the plug sockets of the sprinkler systems.This configuration can also make replacement of malfunctioning sprinklerheads easy, as the sprinklers can be screwed in and out of the pipesystem with ease.

FIG. 13 depicts a corrosion monitoring device 101. The corrosionmonitoring device 101 can perform one or two-way communication with LPUs(e.g., LPU 235) or other devices through the pipe system 100. Thecorrosion monitoring device 101 includes a sensor assembly 102 andcontrol unit 104. The sensor assembly 102 includes one or more wireloops 105 and an antenna 162 that are disposed in a plug 103. Each ofthe wire loops 105A-105D respectively includes a coupon portion106A-106D and a connection portion 108A-108D. The connection portions108A-108D electrically connect coupon portions 106A-106D to control unit104. At least one coupon portion 106A-106D has a differentcross-sectional area than the other coupon portions 106A-106D. In someembodiments, each of the coupon portions 106A-106D has a differentcross-sectional area than the other coupon portions 106. At least thecoupon portion 106A-106D of each of the wire loops 105A-105D is exposedto the same corrosive environment that the equipment to monitor isexposed to. For example, in an exemplary application of a piping systemwhere the interior of a pipe 150 is monitored for corrosion, the couponportion 106 can be exposed to the interior of the pipe 150. Similarly,the antenna 162 is exposed to the interior of the pipe 150 to allow itto receive and transmit signals in the pipe, according to the variousembodiments disclosed herein. The coupon portions 106A-106D can be madeof material that is the same as the equipment being monitored, e.g. thesame material as the interior wall material of pipe 150, so that a rateof corrosion of the coupon portion 106A-106D matches a rate of corrosionof the equipment being monitored. For example, for a carbon-steel pipe,the coupon portions 106A-106D can be made of the same carbon-steelmaterial. In some embodiments, one or more of the coupon portions 106 isnot made of the same material as the equipment being monitored but ismade of a material where the level of corrosion of the coupon portioncan still be correlated to the level of corrosion (e.g., weight loss perarea, loss of thickness, or some other measure of corrosion) of the pipewall and/or the rate of corrosion of the coupon portion can still becorrelated to the rate of corrosion (e.g., mpy or mmy) of the pipe wall.In the case of coated equipment such as coated pipes, the coupon portion106 may be made of the base metal and is not coated so as to provide anearly indication of potential corrosion problems. In some embodiments,the coupon portion 106 can also be coated to match the equipment beingmonitored. For example, if the equipment being monitored is galvanized,the coupon portion 106 can also be galvanized. If a pipe is not metalbut has a metal coating, the coupon portion may match the metal coatingof the pipe.

The antenna 162 is connected to the transmission circuit 116 and a powersource 112. In this way, as disclosed herein, signals can be sent to andfrom the corrosion monitoring device 101 through the antenna extendinginto the pipe 150. Additionally, the RFID tag can serve as the powersource 112 or a power source for the other circuit components of thecorrosion monitoring device 101. In an alternative embodiment, the powersource 112 of the corrosion monitoring device 101 may include a battery(or super capacitor) and signals picked up by the antenna 162 may alsobe used to charge the battery (or super capacitor).

As depicted in FIG. 13, the control unit 104 can include a monitoringand conversion circuit 113, a power source 112, and a transmissioncircuit 116. The power source 112 provides power to the monitoring andconversion circuit 113. The monitoring and conversion circuit 113provides currents that respectively flow through coupon portions106A-106D of the respective wire loops 105A-105D. For example, themonitoring and conversion circuit 113 can include a corrosion detectorcircuit 132 that outputs a current through each of the wire loops105A-105D. The corrosion detector circuit 132 can include a sensor tosense the current through at least one wire loop 105 (e.g., via acurrent sensor). The corrosion detector circuit 132 provides a constantor near constant voltage drop across the coupon portions 106A-106D suchthat the respective current through each of the loops 105A-105D variesin time based on the amount of corrosion the respective coupon portions106A-106D have experienced. For example, the coupon portions 106 areconfigured to corrode such that, as the coupon portions 106A-106Dcorrode, the current through each loop 105A-105D changes due to adecrease in the cross-sectional area of each coupon portion 106A-106D,which increases the resistance in the respective wire loops 105A-105D.Based on the sensed value or values of each wire loop 105A-105D, thecorrosion detector circuit 132 (or another device such as monitoringplatform 230—see FIG. 16) can calculate respective resistance values ofthe coupon portions 106A-106D, which can include instantaneousresistance values and/or averaged resistance values. In someembodiments, the detector circuit 132 can be configured to keep thecurrent through each wire loop 105A-105D constant while sensing thevoltage drop across each wire loop 105A-105D. Regardless of the type ofsensing method (sensed voltage or sensed current), the i²r (resistive)heating of the coupon portions 106A-106D does not adversely affect thecalculations and/or is taken into account when calculating theresistance of the coupon portions 106A-106D. In an alternativeembodiment, a coupon of a corrosion monitoring device may be used as anantenna and be coupled to the transmission circuit 116 and/or the powersource 112. By monitoring the coupon portions 106A-106D, the system candetermine if corrosion is happening in a pipe. In accordance withvarious embodiments, such tracking can be communicated to an LPU usingthe communications methods disclosed herein, so that the system can makeusers aware of corrosion levels, or warn that replacement pipes will beneeded soon, for example.

As depicted in FIG. 13, the monitoring and conversion circuit 113 caninclude a corrosion rate circuit 134 that determines the change in theresistance values over time of the respective wire portions 106 andcorrelates the change in the resistance values to a level of thecorrosion (e.g., weight loss per area, loss of thickness of the metal,or some other measure of corrosion) and/or a rate of corrosion (e.g.,mpy or mmy) of the equipment being monitored (e.g., the wall of a pipe150). The corrosion rate circuit 134 correlates the change in resistancevalues to a loss of weight (e.g., in grams) per area of the respectivecoupon portions 106. In some embodiments, when more than one wire loop105 is used, the loss of weight can be averaged over the number of wireloops 105. For example, the calculated change in resistance readings ofthe wire loops 105 can be averaged. The conversion circuit 134 isconfigured to correlate the loss of weight per area of the couponportion 106 to an estimated loss of weight per area of the equipmentbeing monitored, e.g., the loss of weight per area of the wall of pipe150. The correlations are determined empirically (e.g., the correlationbetween change in resistance values to the estimated loss of weight perarea of the coupon and the correlation between the estimated loss ofweight per area of the coupon and the estimated loss of weight per areaof the equipment). In some embodiments, the corrosion rate circuit 134calculates the corrosion rate (CR) of the coupon portion 106 and/or theequipment being monitored. In some embodiments, the monitoring andconversion circuit 110 does not include corrosion rate circuit 134 andthe corrosion level and corrosion rate calculations are performed byanother device such as, e.g., monitoring platform 230. In such cases,the resistance and/or change in resistance values (or informationrelated to the resistance values) are transmitted by control unit 104 tothe other device for processing. Whether performed by monitoring andconversion circuit 110 or an external device (e.g., monitoring platform230), the information related to resistance values, changes inresistance values, corrosion level, and/or corrosion rate is transmittedto a user.

As depicted in FIG. 13, the corrosion monitoring device 101 can includea temperature sensor 120 in some embodiments. The temperature sensor 120is disposed in plug 103 and senses the temperature of the corrosiveenvironment. For example, in an exemplary embodiment temperature sensor120 can sense the temperature of the inside of pipe 150. The monitoringand conversion circuit 113 includes temperature detector circuit 136that receives the signal from temperature sensor 120 and converts thesensor signal to a temperature value. The temperature sensor 120 can beany appropriate sensor such as, e.g., a thermocouple, RTD, a thermistor(NTC or PTC), or some other type of temperature sensing device. In someembodiments, the temperature sensor 120 is a 10K NTC thermistor. Thetemperature value from sensor 120 is read by appropriate circuitry inmonitoring and conversion circuit 110 or another device (e.g.,monitoring platform 230) to predict potential problems due to thetemperature, e.g., problems such as whether and when any water in theequipment (e.g., pipe 150) will freeze.

In some embodiments, a second temperature sensor 125 senses the ambienttemperature outside the equipment being monitored for corrosion. Forexample, the temperature sensor 125 can sense the temperature of theambient air surrounding the pipe 150. The temperature sensor 125 isdisposed outside the corrosion monitoring device 101. The temperaturedetector circuit 136 receives the signal from temperature sensor 125 andconverts the sensor signal to a temperature value. In some embodiments,similar to the temperature sensor 120, the second temperature sensor 125is also disposed in the corrosion monitoring apparatus 101 but isarranged such that, while the temperature sensor 120 senses thetemperature of the corrosive environment, e.g., inside the pipe 150, thesecond temperature sensor 125 senses the ambient temperature, e.g.outside the pipe 150. The temperature sensor 125 can be any appropriateknown sensor such as, e.g., a thermocouple, RTD, a thermistor (NTC orPTC), or some other type of temperature sensing device. In someembodiments, the temperature sensor 125 is a 10K NTC thermistor. Bysensing both the temperature of the environment of the equipment beingmonitored and the ambient temperature (e.g., the temperature inside andoutside the pipe 150), the two temperatures can be read and compared byappropriate circuitry in monitoring and conversion circuit 110 oranother device (e.g., monitoring platform 230) to predict potentialproblems in the equipment due to the temperature, e.g., whether and whenany water will freeze. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, themonitoring and conversion circuit 113 or another device (e.g.,monitoring platform 230) can predict whether there will be a failure ofpipe 150 based on the temperature readings inside and/or outside thepipe 150. Information related to the temperatures, including temperaturevalues and potential problems, can be transmitted to a user. Inaccordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, all of the informationcollected and determined by the temperature sensing and analysiscomponents of the corrosion monitoring device 101 can be communicatedthrough the pipes of a fire protection system as disclosed herein.

In some embodiments, the corrosion monitoring device 100 comprises awater detection circuit 138 to sense the presence or absence of water inthe equipment being monitored (e.g., in pipe 150). All of theinformation collected and determined by the water detection circuit 138and analysis components of the corrosion monitoring device 101 can becommunicated through the pipes 150 of a fire protection system 100 asdisclosed herein.

As depicted in FIG. 13, the corrosion monitoring device 101 includes thetransmission circuit 116 that includes a transmitter and/or transceiverthat can be part of an RFID tag for transmitting sensor values and/orinformation derived from the sensor values such as, for example,temperature readings (ambient and/or equipment environment), waterfreeze indications, capacitance values, presence of water indication,resistance values, change in the resistance values, corrosion levelvalues, corrosion rate values, and/or other sensor values and/orinformation to external devices (e.g., monitoring platform 230, depictedin FIG. 16) via the fire protection and corrosion monitoring system 270and/or communications network 220 (see FIG. 14). In addition to thevarious values and information discussed above, the transmission circuit116 can also transmit other information generated by the corrosionmonitoring apparatus 100 such as the status of the corrosion monitoringapparatus 101 (e.g., on-line, off-line, working properly, not working,needs repair, and/or some other status value), status of the individualvoltage, current, capacitance, and/or temperature sensors (e.g.,working, not working, value out of range, and/or some other informationconcerning the sensors), status of the wire loops (e.g., closed, open orbroken loop, expected life, or some other information concerning thewire loops), and/or some other information related to the readiness ofcorrosion monitoring apparatus 101. The transmission circuit 116 can usemicrowave RF signals and the pipe system as a waveguide as disclosedherein. The transmission circuit 116 may also receive signals from anLPU or other device through the antenna 162. Such signals may requestsome information from the corrosion monitoring device or may indicatethat the corrosion monitoring device change a state (e.g., stopmeasuring something, turn off/on sensor, perform some local analysisbased on information collected at the corrosion monitoring device,etc.).

Corrosion monitoring may occur based on signal processing and/or usingcorrosion monitoring devices as disclosed herein. Information collectedby the systems and methods disclosed herein may be disseminated,processed, used, and/or otherwise sent/received. The methods and systemsdescribed below with respect to FIGS. 14-16 may be applied to all kindsof communications that are sent and received by the fire protectionsystems disclosed herein. For example, communications relating todetector measurements and states (e.g., on/off, malfunction, calibrationneeded), fluid distribution device instructions and state information,and any other device in the system may be sent/received. In addition,the systems and methods of FIGS. 14-16 below may be applied to corrosioninformation and/or communications, irrespective of whether the corrosioninformation and/or communications were derived from a corrosionmonitoring device or were the product of signal processing to determinecorrosion or corrosion related information.

FIG. 14 depicts an example of operating environment 200. As depicted inFIG. 14, operating environment 200 may include one or more mobiledevices 210 (e.g., a mobile phone, tablet computer, mobile media device,mobile gaming device, vehicle-based computer, wearable computing device,portable computer, or other portable communication device), electronicdevice 215 (e.g., computers, servers, mainframes, or anothernon-portable type electronic device), communications network 220,monitoring platform 230 (e.g., running on one or more remote servers),fire protection and corrosion monitoring system 270 (including one ormore corrosion monitoring devices 101, distribution devices 110,detectors 130, local processing unit 235, and/or gateway unit 400)located in a building 240, user management interface 250, fireprotection system pipes 150, and a customer database 260. In someembodiments, the end user can monitor, e.g., via mobile device 210and/or electronic device 215, the level of corrosion, fire conditions,states of devices in the system, the rate of corrosion, the thickness ofthe equipment (e.g., thickness of the pipe walls), the temperature ofthe equipment environment (e.g., temperature inside the pipe), theambient temperature (e.g., temperature outside the pipe), and/or thepresence or absence of water by means of an app on the mobile device 210and/or electronic device 215. In addition, other information such assensor values, the status or state of the fire protection and corrosionmonitoring system 270 (e.g., on-line, off-line, working properly, notworking, needs repair, and/or some other status value), status of theindividual voltage, current, capacitance, and/or temperature sensors(e.g., working, not working, value out of range, and/or some otherinformation concerning the sensors), status of the wire loops (e.g.,closed, open or broken loop, expected life, or some other informationconcerning the wire loops), and/or some other information related to thereadiness of the fire protection and corrosion monitoring system 270 canbe transmitted to the mobile device 210 and/or electronic device 215.The mobile device 210 and/or electronic device 215 can provide alerts,predicted maintenance times, predicted failures, or other informationthat shows the status of the equipment being monitored, e.g., a pipingsystem, and/or the fire protection and corrosion monitoring system 270.

Mobile devices 210, electronic device 215 and the fire protection andcorrosion monitoring system 270 can include network communicationcomponents that enable communication with remote hosting servers (e.g.,monitoring platform 230), other computer and servers, or other portableelectronic devices by transmitting and receiving wireless signals usinglicensed, semi-licensed or unlicensed spectrum over communicationsnetwork 220. In some embodiments, communications network 220 maycomprise multiple networks, even multiple heterogeneous networks, suchas one or more border networks, voice networks, broadband networks,service provider networks, Internet Service Provider (ISP) networks,and/or Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs), interconnected viagateways operable to facilitate communications between and among thevarious networks. Communications network 220 can also includethird-party communications networks such as a Global System for Mobile(GSM) mobile communications network, a code/time division multipleaccess (CDMA/TDMA) mobile communications network, a 3rd or 4thgeneration (3G/4G) mobile communications network (e.g., General PacketRadio Service (GPRS/EGPRS)), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), or Long TermEvolution (LTE) network), or other communications network.

Various components may be included in mobile devices 210 to enablenetwork communication. For example, a mobile device 210 may beconfigured to communicate over a GSM mobile telecommunications network.As a result, the mobile device 210 or components of the fire protectionand corrosion monitoring system 270 may include a Subscriber IdentityModule (SIM) card that stores an International Mobile SubscriberIdentity (IMSI) number that is used to identify the mobile device 210 onthe GSM mobile communications network or other networks, for example,those employing 3G and/or 4G wireless protocols. If the mobile device210, electronic device 215 or the fire protection and corrosionmonitoring system 270 is configured to communicate over anothercommunications network, the mobile device 210, electronic device 215 orcomponents of the fire protection and corrosion monitoring system 270may include other components that enable it to be identified on theother communications networks.

In some embodiments, mobile devices 210, electronic device 215 orcomponents of the fire protection and corrosion monitoring system 270 inbuilding 240 may include components that enable them to connect to acommunications network using Generic Access Network (GAN) or UnlicensedMobile Access (UMA) standards and protocols. For example, a mobiledevice 210 and/or electronic device 215 may include components thatsupport Internet Protocol (IP)-based communication over a Wireless LocalArea Network (WLAN) and components that enable communication with thetelecommunications network over the IP-based WLAN. Mobile devices 210,electronic device 215 or components of the fire protection and corrosionmonitoring system 270 may include one or more mobile applications thatneed to transfer data or check-in with monitoring platform 230.

In some embodiments, monitoring platform 230 can be configured toreceive signals regarding the state of one or more fire protection andcorrosion monitoring systems 270. The signals can indicate the currentstatus of a variety of system components. For example, in accordancewith some embodiments, the signals can include information related tothe level of corrosion, the rate of corrosion, the thickness of theequipment (e.g., thickness of the pipe walls), the temperature of theequipment environment (e.g., temperature inside the pipe), the ambienttemperature (e.g., temperature outside the pipe), and/or the presence orabsence of water. In addition, monitoring platform 230 can be configuredto receive signals related to other information such as sensor values,the status of the fire protection and corrosion monitoring system 270(e.g., on-line, off-line, working properly, not working, needs repair,and/or some other status value), status of the individual voltage,current, capacitance, and/or temperature sensors (e.g., working, notworking, value out of range, and/or some other information concerningthe sensors), status of the wire loops (e.g., closed, open or brokenloop, expected life, or some other information concerning the wireloops), and/or some other information related to the readiness of thefire protection and corrosion monitoring system 270. The monitoringplatform 230 can also be configured to provide alerts, predictedmaintenance times, predicted failures, or other information that showsthe status of the equipment being monitored, e.g., a piping system,and/or the fire protection and corrosion monitoring system 270 in thebuilding 240 to external devices such as, e.g., mobile device 210 and/orelectronic device 215.

Monitoring platform 230 can provide a centralized reporting platform forcompanies having multiple properties with fire protection and corrosionmonitoring systems 270. For example, a hotel chain or restaurant chainmay desire to monitor piping systems in multiple properties viamonitoring platform 230. This information can be stored in a database inone or more corrosion monitoring system profiles. Each of the corrosionmonitoring system profiles can include a location of a fire protectionand corrosion monitoring system 270, a corrosion monitoring systemidentifier, a list of components of the fire protection and corrosionmonitoring system 270, a list of sensors available on the fireprotection and corrosion monitoring system 270, current and historicalstate information (including information related to the sensors, thelevel/rate of corrosion, the temperature of the water, presence orabsence of water, and/or status of the fire protection and corrosionmonitoring system 270, etc.), contact information (e.g., phone numbers,mailing addresses, etc.), maintenance logs, and other information. Byrecording the maintenance logs, for example, monitoring platform 230 cancreate certifiable maintenance records to third parties (e.g., insurancecompanies, fire marshals, etc.) which can be stored in customer database260.

The fire protection and corrosion monitoring system 270 in building 240can include a local processing unit 235 that communicates with one ormore of the corrosion monitoring devices 101, detectors 130, anddistribution devices 110 using the pipe system 150 as a waveguide forthe communication signals. Local processing unit 235 can be configuredto receive the sensor values and/or other information, as discussedabove, from one or more of the corrosion monitoring devices 101,detectors 130, and distribution devices 110 and transmit the sensorvalues and/or other information to monitoring platform 230 via, e.g.,communications network 220. In some embodiments, local processing unit235 can directly communicate the sensor values and/or other informationfrom one or more corrosion monitoring devices 101, detectors 130, anddistribution devices 110 to monitoring platform 230. In otherembodiments, the fire protection and corrosion monitoring system 270 inbuilding 240 includes a gateway 400 that can communicate with one ormore local processing units 235 and the local processing unit 235 cantransmit the sensor values and/or other information from the corrosionmonitoring devices 101, detectors 130, and distribution devices 110 tothe gateway unit 400 using standard transmission methods or throughpipes as disclosed herein (or a combination of the two). The gatewayunit 400, upon receiving the signal values, can then transmit (e.g.,using a cellular or IP-based network) the sensor values and/or otherinformation from the corrosion monitoring devices 101, detectors 130,and distribution devices 110 to the monitoring platform 230 (or otherdevice) via communications network 220.

In some embodiments, the corrosion monitoring devices 101, detectors130, and distribution devices 110 can include local memory to recordinformation over a period of time. Then, local processing unit 235 cantransmit retrieve the information from the corrosion monitoring devices101, detectors 130, and distribution devices 110 and send theinformation in batches to the monitoring platform 230. Thesetransmissions may be prescheduled (e.g., every ten minutes, every hour,once a day, etc.), event triggered, and/or coordinate with respectiverelay circuits 131 of corrosion monitoring devices 100. As one example,the system may send more frequent transmission based on the type ofpiping system (wet or dry), based on the temperature of the equipmentenvironment, the environment outside the pipe, the presence or absenceof water, the corrosion level value, the corrosion rate value, and/orsome other criteria. The information recorded by the corrosionmonitoring devices 101, detectors 130, and distribution devices 110, andLPUs 235 can be, e.g., information related to the sensor values (e.g.,voltage, current, temperature, capacitance, or some other sensor value),information related to the level of corrosion, the rate of corrosion,the thickness of the equipment (e.g., thickness of the pipe walls), thetemperature of the equipment environment (e.g., temperature inside thepipe), the ambient temperature (e.g., temperature outside the pipe),and/or the presence or absence of water, and/or information related tothe status of the corrosion monitoring devices 101, detectors 130, anddistribution devices 110, including status of sensors, (e.g., on-line,off-line, working properly, not working, needs repair, and/or some otherstatus value). Any of this data can be communicated from the corrosionmonitoring devices 101, detectors 130, and distribution devices 110 tothe LPU 235 using the pipes as a waveguide as disclosed herein.

FIG. 15 illustrates a set of components within a local processing unit235 associated with the corrosion monitoring devices 101, detectors 130,and distribution devices 110 and a gateway unit 400 capable of receivingtransmissions from one or more local processing units 235 according toone or more embodiments of the present technology. In accordance withvarious embodiments, local processing unit 235 and gateway unit 400 canbe low-power, microprocessor-based devices focused solely on aparticular application. These units may include processing units,memories, I/O capabilities, audible and visual signaling devices, andexternal communications capabilities. For example, local processing unit235 can include communications module 402, RAM 404, microprocessor 406,power source 408, USB 410, Bluetooth 412, I/O's 414A-414D, piezo 416 forproviding a local audible alarm, reset 418 for resetting the alarm, andLEDs 420 and components for communicating with devices using RFIDtechnology as disclosed herein. Local processing unit 235 cancommunicate (e.g., wirelessly) with the corrosion monitoring devices101, detectors 130, and distribution devices 110 and other devicesmonitoring the piping system in building 240. Similarly, gateway unit400 can include Wi-Fi or cellular circuitry 422, SD card 424, RAM 426,microprocessor 428, power source 430, Ethernet 432, USB 434, Bluetooth436, I/O's 438A-438B, communications module 440, piezo 442 for providinga local audible alarm, reset 444 for resetting the alarm, and/or LEDs446.

Microprocessors 406 and 428 can have unique identifiers (IDs) programmedor set at the manufacturing level. The unique IDs can be used to link orassociate local processing unit 235 or gateway unit 400 with customers,particular fire protection and corrosion monitoring systems 270,physical sites, and/or other information. Owners and system serviceproviders can be notified, e.g., via mobile device 210 and/or electronicdevice 215, of the level of corrosion, the rate of corrosion, thethickness of the equipment (e.g., thickness of the pipe walls), thetemperature of the equipment environment (e.g., temperature inside thepipe), the ambient temperature (e.g., temperature outside the pipe), thepresence or absence of water, as sensor values, the status of the fireprotection and corrosion monitoring system 270, the corrosion monitoringdevice 101, (e.g., on-line, off-line, working properly, not working,needs repair, and/or some other status value), status of the individualvoltage, current, capacitance, and/or temperature sensors (e.g.,working, not working, value out of range, and/or some other informationconcerning the sensors), status of the wire loops (e.g., closed, open orbroken loop, expected life, or some other information concerning thewire loops), and/or some other information related to the readiness offire protection and corrosion monitoring system 270. Owners and systemservice providers can be notified, e.g., via mobile device 210 and/orelectronic device 215, of alerts, predicted maintenance times, predictedfailures, or other information that shows the status of the equipmentbeing monitored, e.g., a piping system, and/or the fire protection andcorrosion monitoring system 270. User profiles enable the end user todefine his or her type or types of notification and when they occur (anytime versus specific times). Accordingly, the notification capabilitiesare not solely limited to alarm notifications. Since the system iscapable of identifying maintenance activity and/or normal states, thesystem can be configured to notify end users, technicians and customersof the states.

I/Os 414A-414D can be simple contact closure with a mechanical option toconnect a switch to the normally open or normally closed terminals. Thiscan help accommodate a variety of system configurations and may resultin less field programming. Audible and visual warnings can be local(within the vicinity of the monitored system). For example, visualindicators may be board-based LED's 420, and audible would be a buzzeror piezo 416. Other embodiments may also include dry or wet contacts toprovide binary alarm, warning, supervisory, trouble or other alerts tosecondary fire, security, building automation or like systems on site.

Local processing unit 235 and gateway unit 400 can have a variety ofexternal communications. In some embodiments, these components cansupport serial or USB communications so that the device can beprogrammed, configured or interrogated. A local Ethernet port 432(supporting POE) may also be available in some embodiments. Additionalcommunications options may include the ability to add a daughter boardfor Wi-Fi or Cellular connectivity. This component can allow all dataand events local to the system to a centralized server (e.g., monitoringplatform 230).

FIG. 16 depicts a monitoring platform 230. Monitoring platform 230 caninclude memory 505, one or more processors 510, communications module515, status module 520, identification module 525, data collectionmodule 530, technician locator module 535, service request module 540,recordation module 545, analytics engine 550, prediction engine 555, andgraphical user interface (GUI) generation module 560. Each of thesemodules can be embodied as special-purpose hardware (e.g., one or moreASICS, PLDs, FPGAs, or the like), or as programmable circuitry (e.g.,one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, or the like)appropriately programmed with software and/or firmware, or as acombination of special-purpose hardware and programmable circuitry.Other embodiments of the present technology may include some, all, ornone of these modules and components along with other modules,applications, and/or components. Still yet, some embodiments mayincorporate two or more of these modules and components into a singlemodule and/or associate a portion of the functionality of one or more ofthese modules with a different module. For example, in one embodiment,status module 520 and identification module 525 can be combined into asingle module for determining the status of the corrosion monitoringdevices 101, detectors 130, and distribution devices 110.

Memory 505 can be any device, mechanism, or populated data structureused for storing information. In accordance with some embodiments of thepresent technology, memory 505 can encompass any type of, but is notlimited to, volatile memory, nonvolatile memory and dynamic memory. Forexample, memory 505 can be random access memory, memory storage devices,optical memory devices, media magnetic media, floppy disks, magnetictapes, hard drives, SDRAM, RDRAM, DDR RAM, erasable programmableread-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmableread-only memories (EEPROMs), compact disks, DVDs, and/or the like. Inaccordance with some embodiments, memory 505 may include one or moredisk drives, flash drives, one or more databases, one or more tables,one or more files, local cache memories, processor cache memories,relational databases, flat databases, and/or the like. In addition,those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate many additionaldevices and techniques for storing information that can be used asmemory 505.

Memory 505 may be used to store instructions for running one or moreapplications or modules on processor(s) 510. For example, memory 505could be used in one or more embodiments to house all or some of theinstructions needed to execute the functionality of communicationsmodule 515, status module 520, identification module 525, datacollection module 530, technician locator module 535, service requestmodule 540, recordation module 545, analytics engine 550, predictionengine 555 and/or GUI generation module 560. While not shown in FIG. 16,in some embodiments, an operating system can be used to provide asoftware package that is capable of managing the hardware resources ofmonitoring platform 230. The operating system can also provide commonservices for software applications running on processor(s) 510.

Communications module 515 can be configured to manage and translate anyrequests from external devices (e.g., mobile devices 210, electronicdevice 215, the corrosion monitoring devices 101, detectors 130, anddistribution devices 110, etc.) or from graphical user interfaces into aformat needed by the destination component and/or system. Similarly,communications module 515 may be used to communicate between the system,modules, databases, or other components of monitoring platform 230 thatuse different communication protocols, data formats, or messagingroutines. For example, in some embodiments, communications module 515can receive measurements of the current state of the corrosionmonitoring devices 101, detectors 130, and distribution devices 110.Communications module 515 can be used to transmit status reports,alerts, logs, and other information to various devices.

Status module 520 can determine the status of the equipment beingmonitored, e.g., piping systems, corresponding to the corrosionmonitoring devices 101, detectors 130, and distribution devices 110. Forexample, status module 520 may use communications module 515 to directlyrequest a status of equipment such as the corrosion monitoring devices101, detectors 130, and distribution devices 110 from one or moregateways 400 or local processing units 235. Identification module 525can be configured to receive sensor data and/or other information, asdiscussed above, generated by the corrosion monitoring devices 101,detectors 130, and distribution devices 110, e.g., sensors in andinformation generated by corrosion monitoring devices 100. Using thereceived sensor data and/or other information, identification module 525can then identify an operational status of the equipment such as thecorrosion monitoring devices 101, detectors 130, and distributiondevices 110, e.g., a piping system. The operational status and/or thesensor data itself can then be recorded within a corrosion monitoringprofile in a database for the monitored equipment. As a result, thecorrosion monitoring profile can provide a history of the operationalstatus of the equipment such the corrosion monitoring devices 101,detectors 130, and distribution devices 110 over time. In accordancewith some embodiments, the operational status can include a functionalstatus indicating that the equipment such as the corrosion monitoringdevices 101, detectors 130, and distribution devices 110 should operateas expected, a maintenance status indicating when the monitoredequipment should undergo maintenance and/or inspection, and aninoperative status indicating that the monitored equipment may notoperate as expected.

Data received via communications module 515 can be accessed by datacollection module 530 for processing, formatting, and storage. Datacollection module 530 can keep track of the last communication from eachof the corrosion monitoring devices 101, detectors 130, and distributiondevices 110 and generate an alert if any corrosion monitoring device 100fails to report on schedule (e.g., every minute, every five minutes, orother preset schedule) and/or when a request is made. Data collectionmodule 530 can also review the quality of the data received and identifyany potential issues. For example, if a data set from the corrosionmonitoring devices 101, detectors 130, and distribution devices 110includes various sensor data, data collection module 530 can analyze thedata to determine any erratic behavior or outliers that may indicatethat a sensor is beginning to fail.

Technician locator module 535 can be configured to receive location andschedule updates from mobile devices 210 associated with technicians.Service request module 540 can be configured to identify when theoperational status of the equipment such as the corrosion monitoringdevices 101, detectors 130, and distribution devices 110, e.g., a pipingsystem, is inoperative and identify an available technician using thetechnician locator. As a technician is servicing the monitoredequipment, he or she may use a computer application or a mobileapplication to report various findings, observations, parts replaced,and the like. As this information is transmitted to monitoring platform230, recordation module 545 can record the information from thetechnician in the appropriate corrosion monitoring profile.

Analytics engine 550 can analyze the sensor data from the corrosionmonitoring devices 101, detectors 130, and distribution devices 110 andperform the functions discussed above with respect to corrosion ratecircuit 134. Because these function are discussed above, for brevity,they will not be further discussed. The analytics engine can alsogenerate a correlation model that is predictive of when a failure of themonitored equipment is likely, e.g., due to thinning pipe walls,predictive of when freezing of the equipment, e.g., pipes, is likely tooccur, predictive of some other type of abnormal operating state of theequipment being monitored, predictive of when certain maintenance and/orinspection activities should occur, and/or predicts some other type ofabnormal operating condition and/or inspection activity. The correlationmodel (or models) can be generated based on one or more of thefollowing: sensor data relating to the resistance of each the couponportions 106A-106D, the level of corrosion, and/or the rate ofcorrosion; other sensor data such as the temperature of the equipmentenvironment (e.g., inside the pipe) and/or ambient temperature (e.g.,outside the pipe), and/or the presence or absence of water; and othertypes of information such as the thickness of the equipment (e.g., thethickness of the piping wall), the equipment material, and/orobservations from the technicians during inspections. Prediction engine555 can be configured to process the sensor data in real-time againstthe correlation model or models generated by the analytics engine 550and generate an alarm condition, an inspection request based on theinformation gathered from the sensors in the fire protection andcorrosion monitoring system 270, and/or determine the respective powerup intervals for the relay circuit 130 in the corrosion monitoringdevices 101, detectors 130, and distribution devices 110. For example,if the level and/or rate of corrosion is low, the time betweenmaintenance inspections and/or power up interval of relay circuit 130can be extended. However, if the level and/or rate of corrosion startsto increase, the time between inspections and/or the power up intervalof relay circuit 130 can be decreased. In another example, theinspection of the piping system can be based on the number of freezingand thawing cycles the piping system experienced in a given time period.Many additional examples of how analytics engine 550 may be utilizedexist. Analytics engine 550 can also monitor the sensor data andgenerate other types of analytics. In some embodiments, part or all ofthe functions of analytics engine 550 and/or prediction engine 555 canbe incorporated into local processing unit 235 and/or corrosionmonitoring device 100.

GUI generation module 560 can generate one or more GUI screens thatallow for interaction with a user. In at least one embodiment, GUIgeneration module 560 can generate a graphical user interface allowing auser to set preferences, review reports, create profiles, set deviceconstraints, and/or otherwise receive or convey information about devicecustomization to the user. For example, in some embodiments, GUIgeneration module 560 can be configured to retrieve, from the database,the information from the multiple corrosion monitoring profiles. Oncethe information has been retrieved, GUI generation module 560 cangenerate a graphical user interface allowing a user to see theoperational status of any of the profiles of the equipment beingmonitored, e.g., via mobile device 210 and/or electronic device 215. Theinformation generated by the analytics engine 550 and/or the predictionengine 555 as discussed above are sent to the user and/or are availableto the user via the GUI screens.

Having now described some illustrative implementations, it is apparentthat the foregoing is illustrative and not limiting, having beenpresented by way of example. In particular, although many of theexamples presented herein involve specific combinations of method actsor system elements, those acts and those elements can be combined inother ways to accomplish the same objectives. Acts, elements andfeatures discussed in connection with one implementation are notintended to be excluded from a similar role in other implementations orimplementations.

The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of“including” “comprising” “having” “containing” “involving”“characterized by” “characterized in that” and variations thereofherein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter, equivalentsthereof, and additional items, as well as alternate implementationsconsisting of the items listed thereafter exclusively. In oneimplementation, the systems and methods described herein consist of one,each combination of more than one, or all of the described elements,acts, or components.

Any references to implementations or elements or acts of the systems andmethods herein referred to in the singular can also embraceimplementations including a plurality of these elements, and anyreferences in plural to any implementation or element or act herein canalso embrace implementations including only a single element. Referencesin the singular or plural form are not intended to limit the presentlydisclosed systems or methods, their components, acts, or elements tosingle or plural configurations. References to any act or element beingbased on any information, act or element can include implementationswhere the act or element is based at least in part on any information,act, or element.

Any implementation disclosed herein can be combined with any otherimplementation or embodiment, and references to “an implementation,”“some implementations,” “one implementation” or the like are notnecessarily mutually exclusive and are intended to indicate that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the implementation can be included in at least one implementationor embodiment. Such terms as used herein are not necessarily allreferring to the same implementation. Any implementation can be combinedwith any other implementation, inclusively or exclusively, in any mannerconsistent with the aspects and implementations disclosed herein.

Where technical features in the drawings, detailed description or anyclaim are followed by reference signs, the reference signs have beenincluded to increase the intelligibility of the drawings, detaileddescription, and claims. Accordingly, neither the reference signs northeir absence have any limiting effect on the scope of any claimelements.

Systems and methods described herein may be embodied in other specificforms without departing from the characteristics thereof. Furtherrelative parallel, perpendicular, vertical or other positioning ororientation descriptions include variations within +/−10% or +/−10degrees of pure vertical, parallel or perpendicular positioning.References to “approximately,” “about” “substantially” or other terms ofdegree include variations of +/−10% from the given measurement, unit, orrange unless explicitly indicated otherwise. Coupled elements can beelectrically, mechanically, or physically coupled with one anotherdirectly or with intervening elements. Scope of the systems and methodsdescribed herein is thus indicated by the appended claims, rather thanthe foregoing description, and changes that come within the meaning andrange of equivalency of the claims are embraced therein.

The term “coupled” and variations thereof includes the joining of twomembers directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may bestationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable (e.g., removable orreleasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members coupleddirectly to each other, with the two members coupled with each otherusing a separate intervening member and any additional intermediatemembers coupled with one another, or with the two members coupled witheach other using an intervening member that is integrally formed as asingle unitary body with one of the two members. If “coupled” orvariations thereof are modified by an additional term (e.g., directlycoupled), the generic definition of “coupled” provided above is modifiedby the plain language meaning of the additional term (e.g., “directlycoupled” means the joining of two members without any separateintervening member), resulting in a narrower definition than the genericdefinition of “coupled” provided above. Such coupling may be mechanical,electrical, or fluidic.

References to “or” can be construed as inclusive so that any termsdescribed using “or” can indicate any of a single, more than one, andall of the described terms. For example, a reference to “at least one of‘A’ and ‘B’” can include only ‘A’, only ‘B’, as well as both ‘A’ and‘B’. Such references used in conjunction with “comprising” or other openterminology can include additional items.

Modifications of described elements and acts such as variations insizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the variouselements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials,colors, orientations can occur without materially departing from theteachings and advantages of the subject matter disclosed herein. Forexample, elements shown as integrally formed can be constructed ofmultiple parts or elements, the position of elements can be reversed orotherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements orpositions can be altered or varied. Other substitutions, modifications,changes and omissions can also be made in the design, operatingconditions and arrangement of the disclosed elements and operationswithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,”“above,” “below”) are merely used to describe the orientation of variouselements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation ofvarious elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments,and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the presentdisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication system of a fire protectionsystem, comprising: a first radio frequency identification (RFID) devicecoupled to a sensor that monitors a fire condition, the first RFIDdevice comprising: at least one first antenna that receives a firedetection signal from the sensor, the fire detection signal including alocation of the sensor; and a processing circuit that determines alocation of the fire using the location of the sensor of the firedetection signal and causes the at least one first antenna to transmit aradio frequency (RF) signal corresponding to the fire detection signaland the location of the fire through an internal volume of a pipecoupled to a fluid source; and a second RFID device including at leastone second antenna that receives the RF signal through the internalvolume of the pipe, the at least one second antenna received through abody of a fluid distribution device into a fluid passageway of the fluiddistribution device between an inlet of the fluid distribution deviceand an outlet of the fluid distribution device, the second RFID devicecontrols operation of an actuator of the fluid distribution deviceresponsive to receiving the indication of the fire detection signal tocause the actuator to release a seal in the outlet of the fluiddistribution device, the second RFID device transmits a request forinformation regarding the sensor that prompts the first RFID device totransmit the RF signal by transmitting a microwave signal through thepipe from the at least one second antenna to the at least one firstantenna.
 2. The communication system of claim 1, comprising: the secondRFID device, responsive to receiving the RF signal, causes the actuatorof the fluid distribution device to move between a first positionrestricting fluid flow from the pipe through the fluid distributiondevice and a second position allowing fluid flow from the pipe and outof the fluid distribution device.
 3. The communication system of claim1, comprising: the pipe is filled with at least one of water and a gas.4. The communication system of claim 1, comprising: the internal volumeof the pipe is defined by a metallic material.
 5. The communicationsystem of claim 1, comprising: the pipe is formed of a metallicmaterial.
 6. The communication system of claim 1, comprising: the RFsignal is a microwave signal.
 7. The communication system of claim 1,comprising: a plurality of fluid distribution systems including thefluid distribution device spaced about the pipe in fluid communicationwith the internal volume; and the sensor, the sensor provides a state ofa sensor area monitored by the sensor to the first RFID device.
 8. Afire protection system, comprising: a pipe system including a pluralityof pipes coupled to a water source, each pipe of the plurality of pipeshas a metallic interior; a plurality of sensors each monitoring arespective sensor area for the presence of a fire; a plurality of fluiddistribution devices in fluid communication with the pipe system andarranged to dispense fluid from the water source, each of the pluralityof fluid distribution devices having a frame body defining an inlet andan outlet in fluid communication with the inlet and a fluid passagewaybetween the inlet and the outlet, and having an actuator movable betweena first position restricting fluid flow from the inlet through theoutlet and a second position allowing fluid to flow from a pipe in theplurality of pipes to the inlet and through the outlet; a first radiofrequency identification (RFID) device coupled to at least one sensor ofthe plurality of sensors, the first RFID device includes: at least onefirst antenna that receives a fire detection signal from the at leastone sensor of the plurality of sensors, the fire detection signalincluding a location of the at least one sensor of the plurality ofsensors; and a processing circuit that determines a location of the fireusing the location of the at least one sensor and causes the at leastone first antenna to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signalcorresponding to the fire detection signal and a location of the firethrough an internal volume of at least one pipe of the plurality ofpipes; and a second RFID device including at least one second antennathat receives the RF signal through the internal volume of the at leastone pipe, the at least one second antenna received through the framebody into the fluid passageway of a respective fluid distribution deviceof the plurality of fluid distribution devices, the second RFID devicecontrols operation of the actuator of the respective fluid distributiondevice responsive to receiving the indication of the fire detectionsignal, the second RFID device transmits a request for informationregarding the sensor that prompts the first RFID device to transmit theRF signal by transmitting a microwave signal through the pipe from theat least one second antenna to the at least one first antenna.
 9. Thefire protection system of claim 8, comprising: the at least one firstantenna and the at least one second antenna are positioned within theinternal volume of the pipe.
 10. The fire protection system of claim 8,comprising: each pipe in the plurality of pipes is filled with at leastone of water and a gas.
 11. The fire protection system of claim 8,comprising: the second RFID device includes a power source, the powersource is at least partially charged by the RF signal.
 12. The fireprotection system of claim 8, comprising: the second RFID device,responsive to receiving the RF signal, causes the actuator of the fluiddistribution device to move between the first position restricting fluidflow from the pipe through the fluid distribution device and the secondposition allowing fluid flow from the pipe and out of the fluiddistribution device.
 13. A method of operating a fire protection system,comprising: receiving, by at least one first antenna of a first radiofrequency identification (RFID) device, a fire detection signal from asensor that monitors a fire condition, the fire detection signalincluding a location of the sensor; transmitting, by the at least onefirst antenna based on the fire detection signal and a location of thefire determined from the fire detection signal using the location of thesensor, a radio frequency (RF) signal into an internal volume of a pipecoupled to a fluid source; receiving, by at least one second antenna ofa second RFID device, the RF signal through the internal volume of thepipe, the at least one second antenna received through a body of a fluiddistribution device into a fluid passageway of the fluid distributiondevice between an inlet of the fluid distribution device and an outletof the fluid distribution device; transmitting, by the second RFIDdevice, a request for information regarding the sensor to prompt thefirst RFID device to transmit the RF signal by transmitting a microwavesignal through the pipe from the at least one second antenna to the atleast one first antenna; and controlling operation of an actuator of thefluid distribution device to release a seal of the fluid distributiondevice, by the second RFID device, responsive to receiving the RFsignal.
 14. The method of claim 13, comprising: moving the actuator ofthe fluid distribution device from a first position restricting fluidflow from the pipe through the fluid distribution device to a secondposition allowing fluid to flow from the pipe through the fluiddistribution device.
 15. The method of claim 14, comprising: the pipe isfilled with at least one of water and a gas.
 16. The method of claim 13,comprising: transmitting the RF signal at a frequency greater than orequal to 1 GHz and less than or equal to 3.5 GHz.
 17. The method ofclaim 13, comprising: identifying, by the sensor, the fire conditionbased on a temperature of a sensor area monitored by the sensor.